The Ultimate Insanity Workout Review

The Insanity workout created quite a buzz in the fitness world. No matter if you are looking for weight loss, or adding muscle mass or maybe just improving overall fitness, the Insanity workout claims to give the best results out there.

I was tempted by the promises, so I decided to try and finish the workout. Two months have passed, and here I am ready to lay things down for you in this insanity workout review.

If you are looking for all the details about the Insanity Workout, then you’ve came to the right place.

Reading this insanity workout review, you will notice that I don’t have a biased view over the Insanity workout program, but rather present it as it is.

Considering the money and the time and effort required to successfully transform your body with this Insanity workout program created by Shawn T, you must most definitely know all the pros and cons of this set of exercises along with the diet plan.

The Insanity workout review – The goal of the Insanity workout

As you probably already watched Shawn T. speaking about his program, you know by now that the goal of the Insanity workout is to get you in the best shape of your life, both looking and performing, meaning – by the end of this program you should have the looks you always dreamed off, and also increased overall fitness to the point where you can almost match professional athletes.

And all that in 60 days, without having to leave the comfort of your own home.

This had me hooked from the start. Such promises surely make the purchasing fee look silly now, don’t they?

So should you spend something above one hundred dollars in order to get this dvd workouts set?

Well, that depends on many things. I hope that you can form your opinion better after going through this insanity workout review.

The Insanity workout review – Quick glimpse over the results you were asking about:

The thing is that the Insanity workout will work as it claims only if you follow the diet plan explained bellow in this insanity workout review, or at least make your own choice of healthy foods and redefined eating schedule.

You will have to follow the exercises day by day and give your best while at it. Also forget about pushing the pause button while the exercise is running as some people I know.

You must give in your best. That’s why Shawn T says in the first place that this is not for everyone.

You must be committed and motivated.

And if you are asking whether this will be easy – that’s a no.

Prepare for the hardest workout of your life ever. I still try to not reminisce that often about the actual Insanity workouts, since I remember rolling on the floor at times, short of breath, gasping for air, while feeling pain all over my body. You can say I was digging deep, as Shawn T loves to say.

The end results for most of you

1. Greatly decreased body fat percentage.

You will literally see your muscles shaping even before they grow bigger. The reason for this is that the fat will actually be melting from your body. You will sweat as you never sweated before – that’s a guarantee, they say; and they are right, believe me.

And since this insanity workout review is here to tell you the truth – you will spend so much energy in order to burn the fat that you will literally start to comprehend the meaning of the word Insanity in the title of the Insanity workout program. But it will pay off, as the Insanity workout can lower your body fat to as much as 7% or so. Professional athletes are somewhere around 8%, so you do the math.

If you are still thinking over whether or not this is possible, you will definitely be able to tell after the first day when you embark with the fit test – a routine made with the intention of checking your fitness and strength level, while also working your whole body so intensely, you will challenge people with: “I bet that you cannot even do the fit test”. Nine out of ten – you will win the bet.

2. Muscle definition over muscle mass

Now don’t get me wrong, the Insanity program will add you some muscle mass too, but if I have to say which one it does better, I will go for muscle definition.

Eating the 40% protein, 40% carbs and 20% fats combo, will make sure you gain muscle A LOT, but considering the time frame, as well as the main purpose which is more of losing weight, it is safe to say that you will not notice a huge muscle mass rapidly building. Instead you will define your muscles, and having lost the fat from your body they will appear sculpted so well, that you will have that athletic, ripped look.

If I must go with one muscle group that will be more noticeable in terms of getting bigger and tighter, I will have to say chest. You will also see a huge change in your thighs, as your quadriceps will grow as never before, draining all stubborn fat surrounding your thigh. This will make your legs look longer and leaner.

This however, comes at a price – in order for the insanity workout to strengthen you, it must first break you.

Why the Insanity workout at the first place?

Plain and simple – because it just works. That is if you want to see muscle definition as well as some muscle gain, and greatly decreased body fat percentage.

I also chose the Insanity workout for couple of other reasons too which I will try to explain in this insanity workout review.

it takes like the least amount of time when compared to going to the gym, or some sport maybe. I’m not a gym rat, and honestly this came as the best solution. You work out from home, so it cannot get more convenient than that.

It combines results both in looks and fitness and endurance. There will be times I guess, as it was for me, when you will forget about looks, and push yourself just to prove in your eyes that you can go the distance.

You’ll compete against yourself. Half way through the workout the biggest reason I fought the urge to quit was because I wanted to beat my yesterday self, and prove that I can do it.

The team behind the Insanity workout is just too good. You will love each and every one of them, as they will become your team. If you catch yourself answering to a question Shawn T asks, don’t get suspicious about losing it – it’s the chemistry they produce when making the videos.

Because you will laugh when thinking about how you thought this was easy for you, and because you will finally face your biggest physical challenge. I don’t know about you, but as soon as I felt that this will test me to my limits even half way through, I started loving it.

(Update: A friend of mine tried ridiculing the Insanity workout and he suggested that it can be easily compared with ballet – Yoga poses, some aerobics, some Pilates… I challenged him, and he being a fitness rat thought that it would be an easy win. Boy oh boy was he wrong. This was the first time I got amazed by what kind of change happened inside my body)

As Shawn T. says, the Insanity workout is designed to bring your hearth rate at its max, keep it there for a while, and then slow it down by give it a 30 seconds rest. That’s why the exercises last so long and you get so short of a break.

You will love the break though. I know I did. Right before it, the seconds actually feel longer, and the 30 seconds break seems even shorter than it is. This alone lets you know the real intensity of the workouts.

The exercises are also created in order to strengthen your muscles by using your own body weight, and they are so versatile and diverse that you are working your body from head to toe.

If you’re looking for something way more customizable and affordable, we’ve launched our own fitness workout platform.

Who can do the insanity workout?

Here is the truth moment in this insanity workout review – this is not for everybody.

First of all you must have a healthy hearth.
They don’t usually say this, but it’s best if you can go and make a cardio test in order to be at ease when making the purchase. This is intense even for the ones that are healthy, yet alone if you have something that requires additional attention.

Make sure you can do some basic exercises.
You need to be able to at least make 10 pushups and crunches, as well as run at least a mile.
If you match the description of the common couch potato, then give yourself some time to get in shape before trying the Insanity exercise. A week or two may be just enough.

If you have some pain in the joints, then you are also not suited for this exercise yet.
In order to benefit from this exercise you must approach it while feeling healthy and well. I had some minor knee injury, and things got better when I strengthened the muscles on my legs. However, you may not have the same luck, so better check and see if you can endure this.

If your lifestyle doesn’t allow it, then this will be very hard for you. Staying awake till morning working on the screen, or going from one party to another will make sure that you quit the Insanity program after a while.
This is also hard if you are having many responsibilities with the kids, so first try and think about it.

This is just for the dedicated.
If you are looking for excuses all of the time, this is not for you. Save yourself the time and the money.

After reading all this, if you decide the Insanity workout is just not suitable for your fitness level right now, you can try out another workout from Beachbody which should be perfect for you, it’s called Insanity Max:30 workout, and requires only 30 minutes daily.

Or if you’re really into dance workouts, you can check out the Cize workout from Shaun T, you read more about Cize in our huge Cize review.

How quickly will the results come from the insanity workout?

Now this is the interesting part everyone wants to know in a insanity workout review. As we are all different in many ways, you cannot tell for sure. But usually you will start to see the results by the end of the first week.

Yes, that early.

Then maybe somewhere by the end of the first month you will think that there is no more improvement, but you will be wrong, as the results will come till the end, and even after finishing the Insanity workout.

There is rarely an insanity workout review out there that points that you will see results even after the 60 day period is over.

As almost all of the Insanity exercises are compound in nature, you will first see the results in the form of tightening of the muscles all over your body. That’s the first week.

The abdomen will look flat, the biceps and shoulders already shaped.

You will also notice your thighs getting leaner, thus you will be able to fit in some old pants of yours pretty soon.

The nature of the insanity workout exercises

As you know by now, in the Insanity workout you will use only your own body weight when doing the exercises. Meaning, your body will supply the resistance and weight. No additional equipment is required (with the exception of a towel and something to cover the floor, since you will sweat a bucket of sweat).

The exercises are cardio centered in the beginning of the videos, and then gradually shift into more strength oriented. However, having yourself exhausted early on, makes sure that even the strength exercises cause your cardio rate to go way up.

There is like the least amount of exercises you must do while down on the ground, so it’s safe to say that you will be standing most of the time.

There will be a lot of jumping involved too, so you will feel a lot of pressure on your joints on the very beginning.

There is also some stretching and some yoga poses, that will make you more flexible than you anticipated. I cannot believe how stiff I was before doing these exercises. And I was looking to be in shape, so you do the math.

The Insanity exercises are almost all compound in nature. This means that they focus on two or more large muscle groups at one time. This ensures faster fat loss, as well as higher adrenaline levels.

It also means more muscle groups working at once; therefore more increase in testosterone levels while you exercise too. In a way this helps a lot when doing the Insanity workout, since otherwise you will feel exhausted earlier.

The nature of these compound exercises makes also sure that there is a lot of endorphin produced, that you will not feel so much pain during the workouts, and feel more relaxed after completing them.

Now here is the downer – unless you follow the diet plan or take a good care of yourself, you will be drained from energy most of the time.

However, if you do take a good care of yourself and try healthier lifestyle for a change, then you will have even energy to spare.

You will most definitely become more agile, tougher, and more determined too. Also another plus is that you will have a better posture, due to the yoga poses, and somewhat to the over increased self-confidence (as stupid as this sounds).

The thing I like the most I guess is being able to do any physical activity whatsoever with ease after completing the program.

What many insanity workout reviews out there fail to tell you

Most insanity workout reviews usually forget to tell you that you will see results even after the 60 day period of the insanity program passes.

Many insanity workout reviews forget to mention the importance of following the diet plan.

And also a thing that bugs me a lot is that many insanity workout reviews fail to tell you the Insanity program is an evolving thing, meaning that you will learn a different approach to it by the day, and by that achieve different results (take for example always making sure that you ventilated the area in which you are about to workout, in order not to pass out – lesson learned the hard way. I almost fainted once.)

Because of this, I will share some great tips on how to make the Insanity workout more pleasant further in this insanity workout review.

The Insanity workout schedule

You are probably wondering how is the insanity workout schedule created, and will you have days for rest or days when you will be taking it easy.

Well, here is the thing:

When the week starts you have fit test where you will see your initial fitness level, and see how much you are “ready” for the insanity workout. This test will break you to the point when you feel exhausted. The next time you will have to take the test is after two weeks. So you take this test every two weeks, on Mondays, in order to track your progress.

All the other days in the week except Sunday are workout days. And every day is harder than the one before. At least this is due to not having time to rest.

On Thursdays however, you have a cardio recovery day, where Shawn T is taking it easy on you. Then, instead of the usual cardio workouts, you are doing more stretches, and some balance exercises. The hard thing here is that you will also do some strength exercises, and you will do them so slowly that suddenly the only thing close to recovery will be the title of the workout.

The first month of the Insanity workout is easier though, if you ask me. The workouts don’t last so long, in fact they average somewhere around 35-40 minutes.

The tough insanity workout schedule is created so you can face the challenges the second month has to offer easily. The second month despite this is the one where you will feel like you can’t do it anymore. The exercises stretch to as long as an hour and they are getting more complex indeed. That’s why here it is recommended to eat even more than usual.

The hardest thing for me was when there were two sets of different workouts to do in one day. Especially in the second month where one workout was like one hour long. These days will most definitely top any day that you can remember where you thought you’ve done the most demanding physical activity.

Review of the diet plan – The science behind the diet plan from the Insanity workout

To make things clear I will advise you to follow the diet plan as much as you can. However, if you have trouble following it, then it is ok to make your own diet plan as long as it constitutes of the same basics, as the one from the insanity workout.

What does this mean?

In short, this means that you must follow the proteins-carbs-fats ratio, since it is specially designed for this type of activity, and tailored for the results you want to see in your body.

Therefore changing the diet plan from the insanity workout in order to make your own diet plan is really ok.

The diet plan is constructed in the way that you will consume many calories throughout the day, so there is no need to worry if you will feel hungry.

As long as you follow the right amount of protein, carbs, and fats.

The 40% protein in the diet is intended to fuel your muscles and help them in the repair process- something that will happen constantly over the 60 days.

The 40% carbs are on the other hand are intended to keep your energy levels high, as you will need great deal of energy and effort to finish the Insanity workout, and indeed go through the day.

The 20% fat is there to make sure you have extra energy, while keeping your body and all the processes inside it functional. However, we are talking about healthy fats most of the time, so even though you decide to change the diet plan and make your own, be sure to check and see what types of food are mentioned in the original diet plan.

Reading this you probably know by now that you must forget junk food, because it will only hold you back in seeing the progress by hindering muscle growth and fat loss.

Comparisons of the Insanity workout with its competitor the P90X

If you searched on the net even a little bit before you stumbled here, you will notice that many people out there compare the Insanity workout program with its competitor the P90X.

I say competitor only because they are products by the same company, and they both have similar goals.

The truth though is that they are so different that there is no point in comparing. I have some friends that tried the P90X, and by talking to them I see that the results these two programs produce are quite different.

The P90X goes for more muscle, since you also lift some weights and work with some equipment, and is more bulk oriented.

With the Insanity you will be far more fit, flexible, and you will see huge muscle definition, as well as some decent muscle growth. The most important thing though, is that with the Insanity workout you will lose more fat tissue that you ever thought possible.

I lost stubborn fat that was stored on my thighs – that never happens when I do other workouts.

Insanity workout vs p90x – Is Insanity workout harder than p90x?

People try to compare them in terms of which one is harder. And if someone tells you that the P90X is more demanding, just ask them and you will definitely see that they never done the Insanity.

You can try the P90X, finish it, and then still have a hard time dealing with the Insanity workout.

That’s how hard the Insanity workout is.

The Insanity workout is designed to test you by letting you decide how much you can take.

For example it gives you one minute to do as many sets of an exercise as you can. It’s up to you whether you will push yourself to the limit.

The Beachbody insanity Workout community

Once you start with this exercise you will feel like being in a community.

I always find that I have so much to talk about when I meet someone who is doing the Insanity workout, or someone who already, as Shawn T. likes to say, graduated the Insanity Workout.

I also find myself trying to convince other people to try this exercise or read this insanity workout review. I try helping them with tips and so on. The truth is that everyone who has tried the Insanity workout program will see you in a different light when you tell him that you are doing it too, or at least consider doing it.

It’s like a brotherhood of some kind – I know this sounds silly, but you will see for yourself.

Another interesting thing is that after finishing the Insanity workout program you can send the before and after pictures if you like, along with a picture of the set of exercises you received, and you will be sent a T-shirt with the Insanity workout logo on the front, and “I earned it” on the back.

This became sort of a badge in fitness. One that is very hard to get.

Also, as of recently, you can now stream Insanity with the new Beachbody On Demand streaming service, which allows for streaming of workouts anytime, anywhere. You can read more in this Beachbody on Demand review.

Tips for going through the insanity workout more easily (if possible at all)

As I promised earlier in this insanity workout review, here are some tips that I think will make your time the Insanity workout much easier.

Start with some average intensity physical preparation before you start the Insanity workout. Also don’t forget to stretch, since you will be faced with many yoga poses, and it’s better to be a little flexible even before you start.

Always make some minor preparations before you push the play button. These exercises tend to bring your cardio levels way up as early as in the first two or three minutes of the set.

Wear sneakers. Don’t start the Insanity workout without them. You will feel more agile; have better protection on the joints.

Have something to cover the floor with, since you will sweat as you never did before.

Always remember to ventilate the area in which you are about to make your workout. Lack of fresh air or very hot temperature, may have serious consequences and make you feel like you are going to faint.

Have a bottle or two filled with water near you, as you will need a lot of hydration as you go through the exercises. However, drink only a bit each break, so you can be able to perform the exercises.

Always have a towel with you.

Never, ever, eat immediately before you start with the Insanity workout. That can result in throwing up. This almost happened to me.

Never push the pause button while you work out. It’s not intended that way. Take your rest when you must, but leave the video running.

Watch on your hearth rate very carefully. When it goes way up, and you feel discomfort in your chest, stop immediately.

Do not schedule anything half an hour after your workout, since your body will be so hot, you will find it hard to cool it down even with a shower. Make sure you rest your body at least half an hour before you go and do anything else.

Follow you diet plan, and get enough sleep. You will need it.

Pushing through the last week of the insanity workout

Doing everything right, you will be able to push through the last week of the Insanity workout.

However here are some additional tips:

Find someone who is also doing the Insanity workout, and try to motivate each other.

Always remind yourself why you are doing this.

Think about wearing the Insanity workout T-shirt – you are so close to that.

It will be tempting in the last week to go and skip some of the exercises. Read this insanity workout review again and remind yourself what have you passed so far, and keep going.

Where to buy the Insanity workout?

The first place you may think of is obviously the Beachbody Insanity Workout official web page (US & Canada) or (UK). There are couple of things that are beneficial for you if you buy from here.

First of all, you’ll get a brand new copy of the program delivered right to your door.

If you’re from any other country, you can buy the Insanity workout from Amazon. If you decide going for a new package, the one on Amazon would be slightly more expensive than the official Beachbody Insanity Workout website. But you can also even find used packages of The Insanity Workout for a somewhat cheaper price.

Final note of this Insanity workout review

By the end of this Insanity workout review I hope that you made your decision whether the Insanity workout is the right workout for you, and I also hope that this Insanity workout review helped you more than some of the others out there.
You should also try to read the comments below. There are a lot of them, but they can also help you decide whether the Insanity workout is for you.

I personally recommend the Insanity workout, because I know that it works, and because I had a lot of fun hours with it. I even think about doing it all over again.

And you don’t even have to listen to me, there are hundreds of comments just below this insanity workout review, read them and decide on your own.

After doing the Insanity workout there is only one thing that I can guarantee you, you will now be able to do any physical activity whatsoever with ease, and finally lose tremendous amount of body fat, while growing and shaping your muscles.

In the end of this insanity workout review, it’s up to you to try the Insanity workout for yourself, and see the picture in the mirror changing by the day while seeing your fitness level dramatically improving.

And if you’re looking for something way more customizable and affordable, we’ve launched our own fitness workout platform.

688 opinions already. What's yours?

MathewJuly 6th, 2012

This program is INSANE! I already done it, and don’t know why I’m still reading reviews about it. Will definitely try it again. As you said it’s not about the looks anymore, but it kinda gets under your skin if you know what I mean. Nice review anyway. Longer than usual…

I done insanity 9 times now I’m being for real I’m 22 an I lift as well but I decided to switch it up on my 10th round by doing insanity month 1 a week an insanity month 2 the next an so on I also completed tap out XT 4 times along with insanity so yal try tht

Hi there,
I loved your review..
I have essential hypertension (high blood pressure that is controlled with medication).. I used to be quite fit – doing weights, spinning, boot camp, swimming but I’ve done little or no exercise since having my 2nd child 2 and a half years ago. I’m 45 yo and around 148 lbs..
Am I a suitable candidate for the insanity programme?

Yes, do it. If something is hard, you will do a light version of it or sit and catch your breath while watching them do it. Whatever you do, do not push pause and do not stay “out” of it for more than 20 seconds, try to get back in for even just one more push up, one more jump, or just stand up and sway your body to keep it moving. It gets easier if you keep pushing yourself little by little in such a way. The first time I did it, I was really motivated and I got amazing amazing results. I had muscles popping everywhere and really wanted to wear little shorts for the first time. Since, like you, I have fallen a bit out of shape and I have 20 lbs I wouldn’t mind kissing goodbye but it is harder to do while dragging this extra weight around, I am going to keep trying little by little.

This is my 7th day of insanity and I can tell u with confidence that I’m already seeing a dramatic change in my body and I m so excited to graduate from insanity School of excellence! Im doing it to peruse my dream of becoming a professional soccer player!GOOD LUCK
TO EVERONE!!!
EVERYON

Well what a fantastic review. Thank you! I don’t know if you keep the site updated, but i wanted to let you know how suprised i am that so much people are doing the Insanity! I am still on my second week day 1, there is already result. Keeping up with the team in the videos is very hard, but i would say the wish to catch up with them it is Strength which is giving you motivation. And another thing. The program is going under the skin. Whenever your body is saying too tired to do the video today,your mind says ” Do it, do it, do it” :) Thanks again

Eric johnsonApril 9th, 2016

I wasn’t on hypertension medicine before insanity. I lost so much weight and ate better that now I’m off hypertension medicine.

Hey Slavko, I am a 51 year old male and I am on day 37 of Insanity. I decided I was going to take my life back and get back in shape. This is the best move I have ever made involving work out program. You are right about it breaking you down. I can’t wait to get finished and send in my results and get my shirt. Thanks again for the support.

I’m on day 25 of insanity. I haven’t missed a day. I sweat profusely during every work out. I have had some minimal improvement at the 2nd fit test. My physique is the same, though. I don’t expect great changes after only 3.5 weeks but I still dont see even the beginning of all the miracle photos I see online. I’ve kept at it because cardio work outs are beneficial, but so far, I just feel sore every day with apparent physical improvement.

wow, i’ve looked everywhere and this is the most comprehensive Insanity review and guide on the net at this moment. You’ve covered some previously missed points about Insanity that have been bothering me.. well done sir, you’ve got me hooked, i just have to give myself a couple of weeks to prepare for it. Already looking forward to it.

Glad to hear that Daniel :) Prepare for a fun ride. If you want to be prepared I suggest starting with some low cardio in the form of jogging at first. After three or four days start with some exercises using your own body weight, like sit-ups, push-ups (you will have countless of variations of these in the program), squats (since the program focuses a lot on your quads and calves). Before you start make sure that you can do some more intense cardio, and you will be ready.
Looking forward to hear how things will go. Keep us posted.

Hello Slavko,
I just read your review of 2012. It is now July 26, 2015. I think I am way far behind but never late. I have started to mess around and play with the routines in Insanity from a pack of used DVD given to me as a giveaway. I did not know how to establish a regimen. Then I could not even pass beyond 20 minutes. I die every time. So I was wondering if there is a way to do this right and properly as I could not execute a lot of those stretching and plyo and push ups so I just keep jumping and swaying and moving around until the video is into the part where I can do it.
Today, as I read you review, I decided I want to do it seriously and prepared my gym room with mat and towel and water. Is it okay to start this way, having used it for about a month without really following the routines to the T? Or does this mess with the result I am seeking? I just want body definition. I am 5,10. 158lbs, 47yo male.

i love your review it was very knowledgable. Im planning on starting insanity and just pray that o have to motivation and willpower. I’ve been trying forever to reach my goals and i hope this will work for me. Something you wrote did bother me a bit though, you see i can’t really do push ups and i know very well tha insanity is a lot of push ups haha so i was wondering how can i work up to being able to do 20 push ups?

Hi Courtney :)
I’m glad that you like the review, and even more that you are serious about trying Insanity.

There are a lot of push ups, but this is the thing with insanity: It never forces you to do high number of repetitions in one set. Instead, you go with 4, than 8, up to 16.
So trying to reach that 20 mark, I’ll advice you to watch form over number of repetitions. Do one, if that’s your current level. But make it right. It’s about the right form that delivers the results- it triggers the muscles that were intended in the first place.

I’ll also advise you to try making less push-ups, but more sets of them. Let’s say make only eight in one set, but go for high number of sets.
If you still want to reach that mark though, go with steady progress over a certain time frame. Let’s say you add two push-ups each day, and you will easily reach your goal. I did this when I wanted to see how many sit-ups I can do. Following this method, it seems I can do quite a lot ;)

Insanity will break you down, so even one push-up will count. Have that in mind :)

The only issue with doing push-ups on your knees is that you remove your core from the exercise. The core is one of the key elements to all exercises. It isn’t about how many you can do, it’s about how many you can do in correct form. Try facing a wall and do upright push-ups focusing on proper form while engaging the core as you do the motions. As time goes on and strength improves begin to move to lower surfaces like a bench or chair.

Thank you so much for that review! It answered a lot of my questions. I ordered Insanity and it should be getting here any day now. I’m 16 years old, so younger than most people who do insanity. I’m an athlete though and I play competitive and ski race. High school soccer season is in full swing now, and since my school starts a bit later in the day the plan was to do insanity in the morning, then soccer practice after school. Do you think this will be too much for me? We have games twice a week (Tuesday and Thursday) so I was thinking use the rest day on Thursday but also take Tuesday off. Will I still get good results if I do insanity 5 days a week instead of 6? I’m totally motivated and serious about doing the program, I just don’t want to over work myself or be tired for games. Let me know what you think!!

You are welcome. The review was intended to get you familiar with all the aspects of Insanity.

I’m more than amazed by your persistence, as well as motivation! Congrats. Doing Insanity in the mornings, and also playing soccer after school is challenging to say the least. You are an athlete though, so I assume that this is not some ignorant decision, but rather knowing your limits.

I tried following some similar pattern, the first time I did Insanity. I was then into running the 5K, and tried to squeeze some run sessions in the less demanding days of the program, as well as tried to combine things with adding additional rest days. It didn’t end well though, since I found it hard to follow both running and Insanity more rigidly. I settled for doing only Insanity.
You see, if you try and give ALL you got into the Insanity workouts, I doubt that you will need more. However, you can compensate with not going as deep in the exercises, as to have still some energy to put into the soccer practice.

Dedication, healthy diet, enough rest, and motivation as well as communities like this one, are going to suffice I’m sure. I believe that you can manage to do both.
I too plan doing Insanity again, and this time I’m sure I will have what it takes to even add the running sessions (my 5K training is progressing).

I think I will try to do Insanity 5 days a week (none on game days) and see how it goes. That means I will finish in early November instead of later October, which is fine. Thanks for the advice and good luck with your 5K training! Will keep you posted :)

Nope, just the number from the equation. I found though, that you can speed things up, results wise, if you free more room for proteins in your diet on the expense of carbs. However, keep them close too, since otherwise you will lack the energy.

Its a great review,I read a lot but this honestly was the best.,and this encouraged me to ask you:

Am in day 4 today,and its very tough but am insisting to finish this workout with whatever result i will get even if sometimes i couldnt finish the session (after 30 min am dead) !!

I finished 2 and half month of “sixpackshortcut workout” (I Stopped for 1 month),This is why i thought i can take the insanity but its not easy at all but I intend to fallow up.

The main problem with me in insanity is the Yoga and stretching part,my body is not flexible (am 40 year old).
and am becoming tired fast (heart rate increasing very fast which I had to take more brakes .

I need your advise,
Is this ok and i will get used after time?
what shall I do with the stretching part? shall i work with most what I can get or what?specially my legs.
for example i cant touch my toes without bending my legs.

Hi Dankar,
I’m glad that you like the review.
About the intensity of the program, believe me, it gets easier after the first week. Then though, after the first month it gets harder, since the second month of the program is the most demanding.
When you get there make sure to drop a line to let us know how are things going…

Regarding the flexibility and the stretching:
I too had the same problem. Although way younger, it was a pain in the start. First week of the program I did’t knew what hit me- I was trying desperately to make the stretches correctly, but somehow all I ended up doing is falling on my butt.
Then I tried this: I was to make every stretch last longer, while inhaling and exhaling deeply. Every day, I was reaching for more during the stretch, but always tried to hold till the end of it.

My advice would be: form over anything else, and breathing while at it. Even take it a little bit easier in the warm-up part, but do those stretches. They will ensure balance, activating muscle groups you didn’t knew you had, as well as make you more flexible, more agile.

What about your diet? Because you cannot expect much flexibility if not eating healthy…

Try this and tell me how it goes. Also don’t forget that it gets easier after a while. Now I’m off the program for a while, but still have almost the same flexibility. What you gain with Insanity will last long my friend. :)

Thanks for your reply..
I didnt get it very well…what you mean to keep up with stretching as the vedio and to try my best to do it right?
And regarding thd diet:
Usaully at BF i get one sandwich with tea or fruit juice
Lunch: 2 peace of checken breast with salad bowl or vegetables(or fish or steak)
Dinner 1 sandwich around 9-10 pm

Your diet seems very healthy. Though you should add some fruits or protein bars in-between meals.

About my earlier advice- go as deep as you can into the stretch, and try to held that position while taking deep breaths. Every day try going lower with the stretches, bit by bit. Don’t go all the way down if you can stay there just for a second. Instead try the stretches in the position which is only slightly uncomfortable at first, staying there longer, and then progress each day.

Am in the 3rd week today..I couldn’t do the last two days of the 2nd week (i was so busy).

am better than first day,but I still coudnt fallow Shaun to the end ..after 30 min i become very tired.

I have a couple of questions if you dont mind :

1. Through the net,and through his website that many persons got six packs after 60 day (which i cant believe and i think its impossible..what do you think?

2.Although I wish i can have the 6 packs but all my concern now is to just to loose my belly fat (which is not to big) and the fat around my waist (these places are very stubborn)..do you think is this possible after 7 weeks (since am travelling after 7 weeks and i wont be able to do the last week of the course) i want my belly to become flat :-(

3.I noticed that this course (mostly) is concentrating on the thighs area (till now i feel pain on my thighs and every day later is the same (my thighs muscles is not getting used to the course till now !!!)

4. Most of the time,I cant finish the training everyday (after 30-35min) because of my breath. (feeling like i cant take my breath) heart beating too fast. (although am taking rest more than the video instruction )

Hi Dankar,
Congrats for reaching the 3rd week!
Following Shaun is a big challenge, don’t worry if you cannot keep pace. Even some of the trainers fall short.

Regarding the six packs- It is true, not a lot of muscle can be gained in the abdominal area, though if you can push harder on ab exercises you can notice some better results. The trick is that your abdominal fat will be gone, so it will look like muscle gain, since you will have a lot of muscle definition.
The fat around the waist should disappear, believe me.
The thighs are definitely suffering the most stress. But it is understandable, since we all know how hard it is to loose the stubborn fat in that area. The pain should pass over time, meaning you will get used stressing the thighs.

It’s normal, if you are not in some athletic shape, to loose breath. I will advice you though to watch a close eye on that, and not be reckless about it. It is advised to have a cardio check before we enroll ourselves in such activities, but we never do it. The video instruction is not tailored after each individual, so take rest when you feel like it.

Is it important to do the stretching (the middle ones and at the end)?

-and I think for today..there is two kind of workout (Cardio and abs) after I finish the Cardio.. shall I jump to the abs workout or I have to do the warming.the one before before the abs workout?

Slavko DesikSeptember 10th, 2012

Stretching is important, yes. It will flex your muscles, and allow a better blood circulation, as well as cardio recovery. This means more muscle can be made.
Regarding the abs workout- do the whole video. But take your rest before you jump into it. You see, if you have your rest, then you can deep deeper into the workout, and that means better results.
I don’t know exactly how much time should you wait before going for it, but I gave myself something around 10-15 minutes, so that I can make all the exercises.

So far tomorrow will be my first day with MAX insanity (the last month)

first of all, I missed 5-6 days of the first section…Is this Ok?

And to be honest,Am afraid of the MAX section..I dont know if i can do it (it will be 1 hour of max. )
what do you think?
for me now.. diffidently am better than before but still the problem with my breath!! and this was with 45 min so how about with 1 hour of non stop!!!

please I need a push and advise :)

thanking you in advance

NickSeptember 19th, 2012

Hi Dankar,

I’d just like to add that I was in a similar position as you. Except I am still in my 20’s.

To give you some background, I was very out of shape, and I was doing P90x and Jogging with decent results, around 25 lbs lost in 90 days along with some dieting changes. Now at about 245 lbs, with 3 months of workout background I started Insanity.

Let me say the first week and a half was tough! I could also only make it about 30-35 minutes, in fact, I had a decrease to 25 minutes one day earlier in week 2. I also have been noticing I’m very tired at night and in the AM. Then after a cardio recovery day, I decided the following day to push, no matter what to the end. And now, on the end of the second week, I made it. Let me just say, I was very tired after doing so, but it felt great to accomplish my goal and finish the routine. Lets hope I can repeat it.

One thing to help you reach that goal is to remember the last 5 minutes are cooldown, so if you can push another 5-10 minutes, you’ll be through that routine!

Just keep at it and you’ll reach any goal you set for yourself. Don’t beat yourself up for skipping a recovery day if you need it, I know I did, but just go back stronger and faster the next day.

Great advice Nick!
I’m glad that we, who are into Insanity, are always eager to help with sharing some experience. It’s a strange comradeship that is hard to see anywhere else :)

Good luck to you too my friend!

dankarSeptember 28th, 2012

Dear Nick,

Thanks a lot for the push and advise,

I always remember the last 5-10 min :)
and am very stubborn as my belly…am insisting to get rid of it…whatever it takes,,,it still there but it became more smaller and still some fat around my waist..am around 175 lb today.

I was doing abs in the morning but I stopped as I read it will not be useful unless I loose my belly fat.

And I read also that for my measures (1.81 m 175 lb waist 86 cm) body fat around 18 %

That I should get around 161 Lb (8% body fat) to let my abs start to show?!!!

is this possible?

what do you think slavko?

SandyAugust 29th, 2012

What a FANTASTIC REVIEW! Very thorough. My questions:

1) I am 54 y/o female, exercising 6 days a week, workout varies between kickboxing, boot camp, step aerobic/sculpting classes, elliptical for an hour, or some strength training machines. Do you think Insanity is something I can do, given my age.

2) In my den I have carpeting on the floor where I intend to exercise, will carpeting be a problem to do the workout?

Your workout schedule is quite impressive Sandy :)
I cannot see why not going for Insanity. Given the various nature of your workout program, you are suited for the Insanity program the most. It also shows your dedication, which is a crucial factor in Insanity.
I also think that you won’t have a problem with the carpeting. Just try and find something to lay upon the space where you work out, since Insanity will make you sweat A LOT. I was even surprised the first time.

Good luck with the program, and make sure to drop a line and tell us how are things going :)

I think you should try without it, and then see how it goes. I personally, would not invest in it, since as you said it’s a bit pricey, and it really doesn’t serve that much of a purpose. That’s my opinion anyway. For now I will advise you not to buy it.

I’ve been wanting to try Insanity for a few months now. During the last 2 years I have lost over 115 lbs and workout 3-5 times a week. I am 21 years old, 5’2″ and now weigh 191 lbs. My workouts typically include about 50% cardio (running, stair-master, elliptical cycle) and 50 % weight/body resistance training. I can run over 2 miles any day, do maybe 8 good push-ups(more if I do it the girly way), and can squat/do sit-ups until the cows go home. My goal is to get down to 140 lbs, but the last 50 lbs or so have been the hardest to lose. In addition to that I have had a hard time toning any part of my body… I cannot afford a personal trainer, so that’s why I would like to try Insanity! I’m not the kind of person who gives excuses, and always take responsibility for the choices I make- whether they’re healthy or not, however i’m still a little afraid of getting myself in over my head. After reading your review I feel like I can do this, but certainly not with ease– good thing I like challenges! :) Thank you very much for your review, i’m going to buy it right now!!

Reading your comment Stephanie, I think that you can make it. You said something that plays a big part in whether one can or cannot do Insanity. “I’m not the kind of person who gives excuses”… You see, I was almost always in a decent shape, but less than an year ago I injured my knee due to my rigid 5K training. So, I was not doing any physical activity in something over a month before I tried Insanity. The first week was the hardest physical challenge I had to make ever. I don’t know whether this was due to the intensity of the workout itself, or maybe me being out of shape, but what carried me through is the same mindset that you have described in your sentence. Therefore I honestly think that you can make it.
And about loving challenges- you are about to enjoy this then :)
PS. It gets addictive ;)

So, I’ve been reading all about this program online. I have a couple questions for you.

I am currently a University student, and my room mate actually brought this work out to my attention. She really wants to do it and wants me to join her. The problem that I see is the difference between our fitness levels. My room mate is one of those people who eats anything she wants, weighs 120lbs, and never moves a muscle in her body. (She does understand that she will have to do some prep work before she can begin this, and shes fully aware that she needs to get in better cardio shape first). I however, am one of those people that eats all the right stuff, and because I am a student (who spends all day sitting and studying) I have gained 60pounds since I started. This puts me at being 5’4 and 200lbs.

When I was younger, I was an intense athlete and I got my black belt in karate. Not in any effort to put down this program,-I am only saying this to help you better understand my situation and answer my questions-but I can guarantee it doesn`t even hold a card to what I had to do to get my black belt. I had 6 hours training sessions for over a year, two to three times a week, and finally my grading lasted two days of the most intense physical exercise anybody could ever imagine. However, when I stopped doing all this exercise all the time my body went crazy and gain a ton of weight.

I know this is impossible, really I do, but I swear my body has just conditioned itself to needing that much exercise on a normal basis. Since doing that stuff, I have been so unhappy. I go to the gym and I work out, but I only seem to get heavier. Its like my fat is so stubborn, I build muscle under my fat regardless of how much cardio I do, and then I look even fatter than I am. Its really frustrating and upsetting.

That being said, I`m really interested to try this work out, but before I split the cost with her, I want to know if I am going to hurt myself. I really am overweight, but at the same time I will condition myself before I do it, and I KNOW flat out that I have the mentality to be able to get through it no problem, I`m used to that kind of stuff. But, I truly am scared that weighing 200lbs is just too much to be trying something like this. The last 20lbs came on to my body over the last two months when I had to plan a move between provinces in Canada to go to University, and I honestly couldn`t take the stress. After gaining that last 20lbs, I am starting to feel physical limitations, like I can`t bend over like I used to because fat is in weird places, and I can`t sleep with my leg in the position that I used to because the fat on my back is bunching up and getting in my way.

Anyways, I know those are probably weird things to say, I`m just really interested in doing this but at the same time I don`t want to hurt myself. I have no clue how to deal with being overweight and its all happened pretty suddenly to me.

And, lastly, we were wondering if you need a lot of space to do the workout-because we live in a pretty tiny basement suite.

Reading your comment I can tell you that Insanity is going to make a huge difference.
First, regarding the difference between you and your friend in terms of fitness- it is not a big deal. You see, some of us are fast, explosive, agile, even without doing that much of a training- we simply are that way. And reading through your comment I see that your body is probably very sensitive to change- some extra food, and not that much of an activity and it gets prone to adding the pounds. On the other hand though, throw in some hard workout, and it gains results quickly. I find my body to resemble the same pattern. In less than an year or so, I injured my knee due to rigid 5K training. The epilogue- almost two months out of any physical activity, while eating a lot. Then I started Insanity. The first week was hell :) ( I loved it. And you being the athlete in the past, I’m sure you are about to enjoy too). The thing is, that after the first week my body was back on track- I tell you, if you were once able to do those demanding exercises, then your body IS capable. It just needs some initial push. But I digress… My point is that even if your friend is in a better shape now that doesn’t tell anything. My brother is way skinnier than me, but when he started Insanity he had trouble right after the first week, and he quit.

About hurting yourself, no one can tell you for sure, but my guess is that you will be fine. My knee still ached when I started the program, but after the first week the pain was gone. My guess is that the muscles around it become more flexible, stronger, bigger, that they started giving way more support ( the balance exercises, as well as the yoga positions will take care of that).

You say that you can push yourself mentally, and that’s all that it takes. The fact that you are overweight now has nothing to do with completing insanity. Sure, it will be harder, but even if you are in a good shape you will still have to push to a higher bar, thus again facing the same difficulty. Just push to YOUR limits and you will be OK.

Finally, about the space- if you plan to do the program one at a time, then you will need a space of approximately 2X2 meters. If both at once, then something slightly over that, though you can make combinations.

Another thing I forgot to mention- Although I was skeptical that exercise alone can get rid of stubborn fat ( I always looked to find the solution more in terms of nutrition), this program convinced me otherwise. The first month I didn’t even followed some strict diet plan. Although the results were better after incorporating healthy diet (mainly protein centered), it melted stubborn fat even on its own. Make sure to notice that even during the first week.

I really appreciated your comprehensive review. I am just on Day 3 of Insanity, and was very heartened by all that you had to say. I am not following the meal plan — in fact, I just signed up to receive meals delivered from a weight-loss company — I hope this will be okay. I’m not really savvy when it comes to the concept of eating a certain way to serve as fuel because of the exercises I’m doing. Anyway — thanks again for such a great review.

Regarding the diet plan- don’t worry, because I didn’t even followed some strict diet plan the first three weeks. Just make sure to eat more protein, as well as healthy fats. Carbs are useful to, but keep them in smaller portion. And eat 5 to 6 times a day.

This is a great review and has certainly given me more impetus to get to the end and see the results. I intend to run through insanity starting in January 2013 for a second time. My reason for this is that I want to get to a point where I can start Insanity with a running start. Initially in the fist 2 weeks I was doing the push ups from my knees instead of the usual plank position. Although, I am now finding doing them not too bad.
I am in week 3 of Insanity just now. I have already seen big differences. Although I was initially big, coming in at just under 20 stone at 6ft 2 in, I still played squash and swam with my kids twice a week, so I wasn’t a couch potato going into this, although clearly not exactly “fit” either. I have already lost 3 inches off my waist, and lost 16lbs in weight.
In the past I did a bit of boxing, and doing this programme has given me the energy to go out and hit the bag after every session for about 10-15 minutes. Although this is not necessary, I am enjoying the new found energy that I have.

I am not following the food plan although I am eating extremely healthily in my own way. I have cut out everything apart from healthy foods, and ones that are recommended. I don’t eat sweets, chocolate etc anyway, so that wasnt an issue for me. Its the savouries that were my downfall. Now though, instead of eating crisps etc, I will have a few olives.

I find it amazing that there is such cameraderie and comradeship through this programme. I wish I had found it years ago. I live in a pretty remote area in Scotland, so I am doing this on my own. Its great to come on places like this and get a boost in motivation and the confidence to succeed.

Hi Gus,
I’m glad you find this review to be helpful. I started it with the same thought in mind- looking for people and forming somewhat of a community for Insanity enthusiasts. And the interesting part is that everyone who ever tried Insanity will spare some of their time to help other comrades enrolled in the program. It’s a sense of a mutual respect I guess.
I too plan to start Insanity again. Like you said, I need to see how it is when you start with power, in a very decent shape. That’s the primary purpose for repeating it, albeit I kinda miss it too :) You will see after you are finished with it.

Your results are great so far. Though not just calculate the pounds, since remember that you are gaining a LOT of muscle too. Forget about the weight scale, see the progress in the mirror, by touch, feeling the stubborn fat melting. I started Insanity with the goal to get as ripped as I can. I was 156 pounds at the start, and weighted 142 at the end. I lost 14 pound through the entire program, but I dropped to an incredibly low body fat percentage, as well as added some muscle mass and a lot of definition.

Diet helped a lot too. At first I didn’t followed it, but then I started eating healthy on my own too, and great results came. Olives is a great idea to keep eating healthy, I will try that.
Try incorporating cabbage or broccoli and see the fat literally melting away.

Hi
Great review, I’m loving the fat loss but I have built up muscle at the gym will I lose the muscle, and would you recommend I carry on working out with weights a few times a week in the evening if insanity is done in the morning??
Cheers
Darren

Slight muscle loss can be expected, but you will have a lot of muscle definition. There are days in the second month where things are more centered around muscle gain instead of cardio, so you can expect to gain some muscle too in areas of your body that you didn’t anticipated. The quads for example are gonna get really ripped, as well as your side abs.
There is a video in the program for gaining upper body mass that is not included in the schedule, but you get it anyway. That can help you- you can change some of the more cardio oriented exercises videos with this one. Though I think that it only comes with the deluxe package.
You can try some additional exercises, but that will be beyond hard.
Due to the low body fat percentage, any muscle you gain will be very noticeable.

Ha, so you found the review :)
My plan was maybe a week later, since I want to use the sunny days to workout outside more. But I’ll think about it and let you know. Last week was preparation, I plan to do the same next one too, so I believe I can be ready for the 17th to start with more power :) Will let you know

haha… If you don’t remember, you’ve posted it on my Facebook ?! :D Okay, this week I am going to do some light exercises, running, playing football and etc, and from 17th I’ll start . Let me know when you will start. Cheers :D

I am a 22 year old guy – 6ft / 78 Kg .. I am quite slim build with a slight belly.

I’ve been working out regularly for the past 2 months or so (also playing football) – also benching upto 70Kg..

I am thinking of trying out insanity for getting definition but also want to add some muscle mass but I am not sure if it is right for me.. I know the workout has a lot of pushups but does it workout cover back, shoulders, arms as well?

Insanity can give muscle growth as well as muscle definition. Though it’s more cardio centered and it’s more about loosing fat tissue and seeing muscle definition, you will for sure see some great results with muscle growth too.
You shouldn’t expect a lot of muscle gain in the arms area, though you will see some great improvement with back and shoulders.

Question: I live in an apartment (4th floor) in NYC. Is this something you can do without disturbing your neighbors, or will all the movement be too much noise? Is there a lot of jumping involved? I am really interested in the workout, but am nervous about the noise in an apartment.

This is in fact a sound concern. Insanity does have a lot of jumping involved. The only day without jumping exercises is Thursday. However it is good that the workouts last something longer than 30 minutes, so I guess you can try explaining to the neighbors.

Hi Slavko and thanks for the review .
Im on day 17 today been religiously following it .the cardio bit is difficult but i am coping however the abs bit in total madness .only managed to do half the workout . too much stress on the back. im doing the insanity workout just to burn the belly fat and the stubborn fat in my hip .my scale tells me I have 16 % body fat so if i can only take it down to 10 it will be a big achievement for me .

Hi I just started the Insanity workout with my cousin. I had a baby and the extra weight never left me. I am on the first week and… OMG! I really wanted to quit during the fitness test.But I stuck with it. I am not nearly as fast or accurate as the people on the screen but with practice I am getting it. I am overweight and haven’t worked out in a while but my cousin and I keep motivating each other. Its only been a week and I can actually play outside with my son or walk a short distance without getting tired. I can actually breathe again. I feel good and I am very proud of myself. This review was really good, and your right this is not for everyone. You have to motivate yourself to get up and do this. ( I like to workout in the morning and get it over with ) Also I walk before the workout to a little warm up for myself, I find this very helpful. I wasnt looking for a 6 pac or a beachbody, I just want to feel good again, being overweight is not a good feeling expecially when your not use to it. So anybody who is in a situatuon like me just keep pushing! We can do this!

Congrats about the progress Roslyn!
You are right, motivation is crucial. And finding someone to do it with, you’ve made a great move. You are surprised now as for how good you feel. Wait a week or two and you will be even more surprised. :)
Keep pushing, and good luck. You can do this!

My daughter and I started the insanity workout 1 week ago – Im 51 and 234 lbs and she is 25 and had her second baby 2 months ago. She wanted me to do it with her for motivation. Before this I was working out 2-3 X week- mainly walking on treadmill. We are both struggling to keep up with the people on the video but seems each day we do a little better. Neither one of us can do more than 5 pushups at a time, but started out only being able to do 1 or 2. My problem is the excersises that jump down to the floor to do stuff and then jump up and then down again. Will this get easier? It seems like I’m always behind in the video. Also we are wondering if it would be beneficial to do the first month twice (to get in better shape) before moving onto the 2nd month. Also our time schedule is gonna make it hard especially if you have two workouts in one day. We are mainly looking to lose weight and feel healthy. Thanks for your time

You just made my day Pam! Seeing with just how much dedication you’ve come up with, it is just inspiring.
You will see huge progress as the time progresses. Don’t worry about staying behind when compared to the instructors- remember they are renowned members of the beachbody community. The important thing is to not push the pause button, and give YOUR max.
The second month is somewhat more extreme, grant you that. However, you can try and see how things are going. After the first you will be amazed how much you’ve progressed.

I wish both you and your daughter good luck, and keep pushing forward.
Drop a line or two when you are deeper into the schedule. I would love to hear how things are going.

great review, I’m going for it; I probably wouldn’t have tried it if not for your comprehensive review. I’m not one to try the latest fitness fad on late night info-mercials. Only thing I’m undecided on is the diet. I don’t like changing my diet, so I’ll probably only make a minor tweak for this program if that’s even required.

I must say, this is one of the best reviews of the insanity programme that I’ve read.

I’m on day three, fitness test was a real eye opener. I’m 6’3 and about 17 stone. Play football twice a week but made a concious decision to lose the fat before xmas. Once I started doing some reasearch I came across the Insanity programme. The results sound impresive (dont all fitness programmes) but the reviews are what sold me.

Thinking of taking a photo diary of the change in my body ovet the next 60 days, see how the change compares to the official reviews on the website!

It’ll be difficult, and sticking to a diet at the weekends will probably be one of the hardest challenges!

“fitness test was a real eye opener”- It is isn’t it? :) I was shocked about how much I thought I was in shape. It pushes you to dig as much as you can, so you will get surprised each and every time.
Taking the photo diary is a great idea, otherwise we tend to not notice the change to the real degree.

The diet part was also pretty hard for me too. Try and push yourself in that segment too.

So, Insanity got delivered on Saturday, I planned to start today, which I did. I usually laugh in the face of feats of fitness as I am very able-bodied and willfully motivated…. but Insanity laughed in the face of me!! On just the fit test!! I guess I should have known since I read tons of reviews & literally studied the concepts behind it! The fit test is seriously better than most standard workouts. Long story short… I’m in love… lots of pain as well… but mostly love! I also completely understand why this program is well complimented with a support group of peers…. :)

“but Insanity laughed in the face of me!!” – Been there :)
“I’m in love… lots of pain as well… but mostly love!” – This, in way, describes my relationship with Insanity as well :)
Enjoy Amanda, and keep digging :)

I have just began week 2 of Insanity and when this review says you see results as soon as the first week, it’s TRUE. I have done a lot of training in my life as I was an athlete growing up, and the training I used to do doesn’t even touch this program, it is hands down the hardest thing I have ever physically embarked on in my life. I’m only in week 2, but already I am addicted to this and look forward to working out each day, as well as eating the great foods the meal plan has to offer. Thanks for the great review, been looking around for something this detailed and you hit the nail on the head and covered all the basis. For anyone with hesitations, get motivated and just do it! it’s life changing (even after a week and a half!)

Hi Erica,
I see that we resemble a lot in terms of our relationship with Insanity :)
I too believed that I’m in great shape, and then I stumbled across Insanity. I was off by a long-shot, and that’s just putting it mildly :)
I too am addicted. Was planning to start next week, but probably will enjoy the outdoor workouts for another week. I want to start with power this time; compete with Tanya (she is a machine :) and the other guys.
Bought a big screen recently so I’m about to enjoy it even more :)
I’m glad you found this review helpful.

Drop a line from time to time and let us know how are things going.
Take care, and good luck with the program. Keep digging ;)

I am glad to read such a comment, I am an overweight person and I weigh around 385 pounds. I have posted also a comment. I Want to know like If I followed the program and the diet will this be enough for a significant change for me. I really need to lose weight with a good diet plan that can fit me well.
I recently started working in a multinational company so the long hours with a full suit is killing me because I have trouble wearing suits for a long time and even sitting for a long time. I am so dedicated now to finish this program after reading your comment that “it really makes a difference in a week time” this alone motivated me so much.
Thanks a lot and please reply :D

I work out daily at the gym doing cycling and weight training. I also do the P90X workout. I’m considering buying the insanity workout. My concern is that I’m 56 years old. Would the Insanity workout be too intense for somone of my age?

That really depends Karen. The thing you see, that is distinctly different about the Insanity workout, is that it tests you to the limits. Therefore I would ask more in the lines of whether you are giving all in during your workouts, since that’s far more important thing to take into consideration with Insanity.
No matter whether you are just fitness enthusiast, or fanatic, Insanity is all about determination.
Therefore I wouldn’t take your age into consideration at all. You are 56 years young, and if you take Insanity it will show you just that :) In all honesty, if you don’t have some heart problem, or anything of the like, I really cannot see a reason why not trying it.

The least I can tell is that you are into fitness. So believe me when I tell you- You will enjoy this workout.

Hi Slavko,
Amit here –
I have ordered Insanity and waiting for the shipping :)
I have few questions for you.
I am 5 feet 6 inches guy with 161 pouns of weight. I do regular cardio (5 days a week ) from 18 months.
Though i lost 22 pounds in first 9-10 months, I am not loosing weight any more from long time.
Will insanity help in this case?

Also i am indian guy and cook my food at home (mostly Vegeterian) . No junk food or cold drinks at all.
Is the diet mentioned in insanity manageble to people like me?

Glad you took the challenge :)
Regarding the diet, you can pull it out I guess, but you can also modify things for yourself. I’ve seen people do the Insanity workout while eating a lot of junk food. Surprisingly, they were loosing weight, although on a tiny scale. My point is, you will see results even if not following the diet 100%. Granted, the results will be 10 times better if you do, but… You can follow your own healthy food choices and be just fine with it too. I followed the diet only briefly, if that helps, and saw some great results.

About losing the weight; Insanity will make sure stubborn fat is out of the picture (I guess that’s the problem you see). You say you do regular cardio, and thus are unable to see any more results. This my friend, is nothing alike with anything regular. :) It’s Insane. So you do the math :)

Just ordered my insanity package just waiting for it to arrive, just a few questions really. I’m 22, 6ft 1 and weigh about 15 stone. I’m not looking to put muscle on as I train at the gym at the min, I’m simple looking to get ripped before I go on holiday in about two and a half months. I can start to see my abs at the top but struggling to get a flat stomach!! Is the the one for me??

Hi Chris, and welcome to the Insanity community.
In short, this is the thing that gets you ripped. No huge muscle gain, even some slight muscle loss if you are the bulk type. However, it will drain fat from your body, and the muscles would appear sculpted and defined.
Take care, and enjoy Insanity :)

I see you are doing great so far. Sometimes results may seem to come to a plateau, but the truth of the matter is that we are just not noticing every little change since it’s happening gradually. I guess that’s why Shaun T advises us to take a picture before and after Insanity.
You completed month one. Congrats!
I suppose you’ve done the first of the max workouts too. I would like to hear about that.
Regarding the shortness of breath, I’m somehow sure that things are getting better. Do you notice some change?
The stubborn fat is hard to lose, but remember, you’ve only half the way. And now things are getting more intense. Watch a close eye on the diet, since you can sometimes lose control due to the intensity of the exercises. I remember I overate couple of times because I was feeling hungry beyond words.

Regarding the couple of days that you’ve missed, don’t worry really. Things can always be better, but alas, sometimes even the most determined and motivated ones confront obstacles. I too missed couple of days due to a cold.
As for lowering your body fat percentage, it is possible. Stop worrying about numbers and measurements, and just enjoy the ride- I learned this, and it changed things quite a bit. Results will appear or not regardless whether you are measuring them or not.

Be proud of yourself that you came so far, and keep pushing!
I guess that by now you are in love with Insanity- the intensity, the pain, the adrenaline, the great feeling you get while you are doing the drills, the whole team from Beachbody.

To be honest,The max. is sooooo difficult…( I was thinking to do it insanity again later on) but after the max. NEVER :)
Once am done..am done.
I fighting to complete this month..but am staring to be upset and angry…I didn’t thought it would be like this.

Shaun T. was kidding with us in the 1st month :)

Its a 1 hour but till now i couldn’t compete with it..after 45 min am dead.
So I decided to do as much as I can.(Is it OK?)

I changed my routine ..
Now am waking up at 7:30 am to do the insanity (after drinking glass of water)
after the insanity am having chocolate milk (200ml)
Then I have a green shake :
1 banana + skimmed milk + a bunch of spinach

Your questions are always welcomed my friend! We Insanity comrades should stick together. Btw I love talking about the program :)

I’m amazed by your discipline regarding the diet. Kudos for that. Granola bars are best for small meals. You can also add nuts.

As for how hard the workout get- don’t forget, you are one of the elite now. There are not that many people who can get there with Insanity. Just do them according to YOUR limits.

About getting thirsty… I too had the same problem. Try drinking one or two glasses more during the workouts. Small sips. (I don’t know how much you are drinking now)

As for the P90X, that’s great. You will see some muscle building there. With the Insanity workout melting the fat, the effect will be quite bigger. Also you will be so in shape, that you won’t notice the P90X in terms of intensity. As for the pull up bar, I cannot say for sure. It pretty much activates muscle groups that are hard to activate otherwise. It is a compound type of exercise (meaning it activates more muscle groups at once). I never tried the P90X so I cannot say for sure.

Great review. I’m in my 3rd week of the insanity workout now (everything up on the fitness test the other day!)

Read through most of your queries and answers (not all of them. You have loads!)

Thought I might give your readers some of my experience in hopes they might be able to use it.

Keep the core tight! For the first week I had no idea what this meant until I did some googling. It makes a huge difference, works your abs and glutes so much more when you keep your core tight throught out the exercises.
The best description I found for how to keep your core tight(Slavko feel free to correct me as you seem much more clued up on your fitness than me) is to imagine that your friend says he’s going to punch you in the stomach(not the best friend in the world) but tensing your abs and tightening up your butt is what you want to do. Felt such a difference when I started doing the exercises whilst doing this and could really feel the “muscle pain” in my stomach the next day.

I read a few of your followers asked about working out on a carpet, and how expensive those big mats cost. I got around this by using a yoga mat. Since most of the sweat drips of me when in plank positions i just plank over the top of it and save my floor from getting covered in sweat!

Not at all Michael. Your advice is always welcomed here.
As for your progress so far, congrats!
Regarding the core and tightening it constantly. That’s a great advice. I never really focused so much on the core out of the abs section workouts. But this is great. This way a lot more muscle fiber is torn, so a lot more muscle gain in return. I’m going for the program once again next Monday (I was planing one week later, but burned my quads from a downhill run and hiking in the same day.). This will definitely come handy. If you don’t mind, I would like to put this into the review itself, because not that many readers may find it here in the comment section.
Thanks again, and please drop a line or two again to inform us about your progress as well as maybe some other awesome advice.

Hi there,
I came across this workout on Australian Infomercial last week and have been thinking about trying this out.
Your review has been SO helpful, so firstly wanted to say thanks. Also helpful, were the comments and your answers, as I was also concerned about the push ups comment you made, but answered above.

I am a 32 year old female and I did not grow up in an environment of healthy food and exercise, as my mum was a strictly frozen foods and sandwiches for dinner on the couch and it has only been in the last 5 years that I have made an attempt to get to know about nutrition & exercise. I weight train at the gym about 3 days a week and after a conversation with a trainer about my Vegetarian diet, have been drinking 2 protein shakes a day (3 on training days), as an attempt to up my protein intake.

I have always wanted a toned body and have felt my late start and diet, has affected the possibility of getting real results. So, my concern is about the diet needed for this workout, and as a Vegetarian, was wondering if this would affect my ability to do this workout?

Hi there Irene
You are about to make the right choice with the Insanity workout as to cement the change in lifestyle for good. As for the diet, I wouldn’t worry that much. You can have a lot of protein even with vegetarian, just try and find food rich with protein. You already have nuts, almonds, peas, beans, sweetcorn, watercress (3 grams of protein per 100 grams serving)… try and read about Shakeology as well. I never tried it, but people using it won’t stop bragging about how energy it gives them.

I finished first month of the insanity program. I definitely see results on the scale. But my problem is that every morning I am really sore and not fully recovered. This affects on the workout I am doing that day.

I am following the diet plan quite properly and also drinking whey protien and casein night time protien. Infact also taking fish oil and multivitamin.

Hi Mehul.
First let me say congrats.
Recovery wise you would try more rest. Go to bed earlier, since otherwise you are putting your body through additional stress.
You can also try massage, but more rest itself would suffice. Though remember that this is the elite of fitness, sometimes it just hurts.

Hi Slavko,
Sorry, never got change to thank you.
I will keep that in mind and infact will find some massage today itself. I think I am getting better at recovery.
Also I have trouble sleeping since i had gained tons of weight. Although its getting better i am trying each and every possible thing to get the best sleep I can. Currently I am getting like 6-7 hrs only. Ill work on it too.
Thanks again and its great what you do. I am a fan of this site and come here often to read reviews even though m in the last week of Insanity.

Just did my fitness test, was so good I’m sore today in all the right was and loved every min of it, best thing I have every bought:) so looking forward to do it again today,

Just a quick question, I’m a bit stuck on the diet plan. I have one at the min that I using and seems to be going really well, I think with the new DVD and the same plan it could be a good, this is what I’m having…

Breakfast: scrambled egg. 2 whites and one yoke.

Mid morning snack: protein shake with 25g or dried fruit and nuts.

Lunch: simply chicken 100g 50g of whole meal paster and veg

Afternoon: protein shake. ( the protein I’m on has no carbs as I’m trying to do a very low carb meal plan to rip up)

Evening meal: chicken and broccoli(no carbs)

And then a protein shake after I workout.. How do you think that sounds. If there’s anything you suggest then I would be very grateful and appreciate you opinion:)

Hi Chris
Glad hearing about your progress. I guess it’s just inevitable to fall in love with Insanity.
As for your diet, you are doing great already. I personally would try and replace the dried fruit with some fresh one, since a lot less carbs that way, as well as way more vitamins and minerals. Also you will need that water from fruits to keep you hydrated.
Another thing I would add is cabbage, since containing I3C it will help you melt the fat.
Everything else looks just great.

Also try and give yourself a day in the week (usually Sunday) where you can eat whatever you like. It helps the hormone balance, as well as gives you some additional energy while making you less cranky.

Hi Slavko,
Dan here.Very awesome review! I started month 2 fourth day tomorrow and boy is it hard!! I’m 32 and weight trained since 16. Always had a strong upper body but core and legs were horrible! I’m 5’10 and started the insanity workout at 235. Today I’m still 5’10 lol but 215lbs and feel my legs and core stronger than ever! Clothes fit nice and I’m happy!! Only problem is I’m soo tired ever since i started month 2 I follow the meal plan to a T and sleep 8 hrs. I eat 5 meals at 400 cal each. Should I add result and recovery and eat more? My ultimate goal is 190-200lbs? And I def find myself answering and talking to Shaun lol I loved that you said that!! Haha
Thanks Dan

Hi Dan
Glad hearing about your results so far. This is a life changer man.
Try eating more, but stick to fruits and vegetables. Drink more water too. Month two just started, you will get used to it a after a while. Try adding two or three snacks where you eat an apple or two. It should give you some more energy. The thing is to not let yourself feel hungry.
Keep digging, you are so close to your goal.
You will find that after Insanity it gets easier to maintain that weight and even lose some without any particular effort.

Yes please go ahead and add the keeping the core tight tip to your guide. Would be very happy if it helps anyone out with their insanity workout.

p.s. another bit of advice, make sure your housemate or whoever you live with hasn’t turned on the heating!

I got through the warm up portion of my workout last night and was alot hotter and sweating even more than normal (didn’t think that was possible). Finished the first set of exercises and it wasn’t till i thought I was going to pass out that I realised the central heating was turned on!!

Your review has made me purchase The Insanity Workout DVD’s ,I found it very helpful along with all the customer comments ,feels like a great community to be part of :)

Ok my one and only concern is the fact that 6 months ago I was diagnosed as having runners knee ,my knee cap was getting pulled out of place and was causing a lot of discomfort and swelling ,I have been to physiotherapist and got it straightened out and have been back playing football 4 times a week ,my one concern is after football it’s very stiff (not so much sore) and I have to be constantly stretching out the ligaments ,now I can run miles and I’m very explosive as I have very good fast twitch muscle fibres so I am blessed in that sense but I have heard that anyone who has had back or knee problem should run for the hills with the Insanity Workout

Basically I want to go all in and I probably will because that’s just me but do you think there is a risk I could injure myself here or do you think my knee has recovered enough to take the beating

Hi David
I too had a problem with my knee but nothing that serious. I was doing nothing for a month before I started the Insanity. After the first couple of days I felt the pain in my knee again, and at the time I was uncertain whether I will continue with the Insanity.
The pain disappeared after the first week though, and my guess is that it was due to the muscles surrounding the knee getting stronger and taking the whole stress.

I will advice you to start slowly and see how things turn out. I was very surprised that I actually got better, but you may not have the luck. Six months does sound like a lot though. Were you doing some demanding physical activity recently. Did you test yourself as for how much you can stress the knees?

Hi Michael
It looks OK to me. This time (my second time doing Insanity- see this post too http://www.lifestyleupdated.com/2012/10/10/the-insanity-workout/) I decided not to use any supplement other than vitamins. I just eat more fruits and vegetables, and with that I cover the carbs part. It’s great for energy too. Also try Spirulina. I’m thinking about taking it again.

Hi there!
Saw the advert on the TV and thought it looked totally awesome so I googled for reviews and I’m very impressed, I want to lose weight but tone up too- does this programme mainly focus on gaining muscle or weight loss too? Xxx

Hi Nina
Great for considering the Insanity :)
This program is focusing more on weight loss and getting that ripped look (muscle definition before anything else). You gain muscle, yes, but nothing too bulk. Go and see the girls from the videos, I think that sums it up.

Hey Slavko!!
Your review was awesome and answered many of my questions about what to expect from the program. I’m a fan of body weight workouts plus I trained heavily for amateur boxing in 2007 and remained in pretty good shape since. I’m fully confident that I can complete the program and can only imagine what my body will be capable of when I finish.

Anyways, my question is whether or not you are still seeing gains now that you are doing insanity a second time? Similar to the young lady that commented earlier, I will be doing insanity workout in the morning along with some combat sports training in the evening. After I finish a first time I want to do it again to stay in tip top shape. My fitness goals are to increase my endurance, strength and overall fitness to the next level. I want my opponents to be overwhelmed with a good mix of technique and fitness.

Training for combat sports is similar to this max interval training since I train for multiple three minute rounds with a short rest in between rounds. I feel insanity is the answer for my training goals because it seems to help you fight against hitting a plateau and pushes you past your limits. For me that’s exactly what I need.

Hey Corado
You’ve made the right choice with this program. If adrenaline and challenge is what you are after, you will have plenty of both here. Besides, all the segments you’ve listed as being in great shape, you get them too. Speed is at an entirely different level. I do all kinds of sports all my life but never boxed though, however I sense that I’ve gained so much speed and power that I can throw a couple of good ones. Agility too. You will be amazed by how much control over your movements this program grants you.
Have a great day!
Keep us posted. I would really love to hear about the performance part.

Oh, and I’ve forgot. Doing it the second time results are here too. Between the first time and now I’ve done some 5k training and swimming, and going with Insanity again I feel all my abilities improved. As for the fat loss, every pound that I’ve added is almost gone. And thing is, I’m only on week two.

Hello Slavko!
I do have a specific problem and would like to know if I am the only one. I am in the second week of month 1 of Insanity. I do not follow the nutritional plan, I am trying to do my own healthy meal plan. The problem I am facing is that I am not able to eat the amount of calories I am suppoosed to. For example, I am supposed to eat around 1900 calories a day, but in the evening I still have 200-300 left. I eat often, small portions. I am just not hungry, do I need to force myself to eat all that calories to fulfill the needs of my body or is it ok to eat less?
Thank you for your answer.

Hi Petra
You should be happy :) Your body not requiring that much food, you actually have a better start even there. Some people convert energy harder others do it easier. Sometimes it is about the genes and every individual is different.
By all means eat as much as you feel is enough. Try eating healthy as to supply the body with the right amount of nutrients.
Take care

Thank you for your answer. Another thing, I know that you recommend to do Insanity workout and only Insanity:-) but…I play basketball twice a week, not a pro level, but still I sweat :-) I do play a competition though. So my question is, is it ok to do the Insanity workout “only 4-5” times a week instead of six? I am trying to avoid the workout at least on my game days. Or do you think it is just not possible to get the same results?
Thanks.

You are welcome Petra.
I’m a basketball fan too. Have a court right next to my house, so I played more than I can recall.
As for the results, I think you will not see a huge difference, though there will be less of them if skipping workouts. It also depends on the intensity of your play. (how long, how much intensity, whether there is any break or not). If your goal is to be in great shape, and you are not in a hurry, then you can stretch the workouts into more than two months, while switching between Insanity and basketball from day to day. There are a lot of people doing some mix between Insanity and P90X or Insanity and other sports and exercises in the gym. I find Insanity to top everything (though I tend to add couple of sets of sit ups after some workouts as to gain more muscle growth in the abs section/ there is not that much gain there/ ).
If you find something fulfilling as you do with basketball then my advice is to switch occasionally. You will have more fun and overall a great experience. I may just do the same next month, since my friends are trying to persuade me to join them in swimming sessions.
Take care Petra, and drop a line from time to time. You are always welcomed :)

That’s the thing, I am not skipping my insanity workouts. As you said, I will just stretch the 60 day program to about 90 days with basketball in between. I will let you know how it went.
Take care.

LizMarch 9th, 2015

Hey I am on day 2 of the insanity but I’m finding it so hard to keep goin . I keep pausing every 5-7 min and rest to catch my breath . I have been working out for a while I didn’t think it will be hard . I really don’t want to give up when should it start getting easier?

MichelleOctober 16th, 2012

Thanks for the honest and thorough review. I just started the Insanity workout yesterday. I did the fit test and while I made it all the way through, I’m super sore today! I didn’t think I was terribly out of shape as I am pretty active – yoga, running, swimming, hiking, etc, but I am feeling the pain today! I’m looking forward to my first workout this evening and looking forward to the program!

Hi slavko,
Thanks of your great review of insanity workout.I’ve started it since one month and found it extremley demanding despite my background in soccer and boxing!! however my main complaint about the program is that since it’s too intense on quads and gluts, I’ve much more difficluty in recovering for the next day and they’re constantly sore! I get 7 hrs sleep, have 4 meals including my whey protein. hope u guys can deal much better with lactic acid!!

Hi Farid
It’s almost the same with everybody else. Just try and add in some additional sleep, maybe another meal, and see if you can limit all the other physical activities for now. I’m doing Insanity for the second time (three months or so break in between), and I still cope with the same problems. Heck, I feel my quads burning as I’m writing this.
Take care

Hi Brant
Regarding the shake, it’s great if you can use it, but you can get the same results by taking more protein than usual. Foods like nuts and almonds also give a great substitute for protein shakes. They are great for snacks too.
As for the second question, here is the thing… Insanity is focused more on weight loss and muscle definition, hence less muscle gain. There is still a lot though. Regarding the lack of muscle recovery- it perfectly fits into this equation. Intense weight loss, muscles defined more than with any other workout, muscle gain not that much due to the lack of rest.
You will for sure see a lot of muscle gain in the squads and pecs, however the abs are just going to be more defined, not a lot of gain there.

Hi Slavko,
Your review was very insightful and motivating. Thanks a million ! The Insanity workout has already been delivered to me but haven’t started it yet.
My name is Zoe and I am 39 years old. I have been a health and fitness “junkie” all my life. Was a professional tennis player and a water ski champion. Have been doing military fitness for many years and practicing Bikram yoga for over 12 years.
A year ago, I had a spine surgery (lumbar discectomy) which was probably the best thing that ever happened to me!!
I resumed all of my activities after the 3rd month since my surgery.
Would you think I am a good candidate for the Insanity workout?
Also, because I live in between two cities, I travel extensively.
What’s your recommendation?

Hi Zoe :)
Being a fitness junkie you are about to love this one :) Hate it too from time to time, as it will push you to the limits…
As for whether is this ideal for you… You can try and see. Good thing are the balance exercises and the yoga poses which, in my opinion, will definitely improve your posture and strengthen the muscles supporting your spine. As for more on this issue, I’m not qualified to speak.
Traveling between two cities this is even better than any other option. Say, gym. You just put the CD, put the shorts and sneakers and push play. It is time efficient more than anything else.

Advice please. I have 3 weeks of Insanity left. I have just had a week off it, then in 2 weeks time I go away again for a week. Do I carry on doing it as and when I can until I complete, or shall I do something else for 2 weeks then start month 2 again when I get back? I’m thinking the latter but wondered what others thought.

If you are not in some hurry with results you can really tailor the schedule according to your taste. It will deliver either way.
I too had missed couple of days when I did it the first time, and thought about adding additional workouts into one day. That would have been stupid I suppose. Instead I continued and added those two or three days after the program ended.

thanks so much. I’ll let my friend know. In my case I’m a creature of habit so I followed everything as far as Insanity schedule, diet and intensity of workout and proud to say I can keep up with those bad a$$** haha! Thanks so much!

Hi Sal
My pleasure. The Insanity workout is not a small project, I’m glad that people are getting informed before starting with it.
As for the first question- My advice would be to take the rest. The program is very intense, and it is designed so that your body can take enough stress and then rest for one day. Even that is too much as you can see. Give the muscles time to recuperate and grow. Getting the more sore won’t do you any good.
As for the second question- I guess you are referring to repeating the whole program. If so, then I would advice you to take some rest first. Maybe even visit a doctor as to see how your body is doing… to make sure you can go for it again right after one week. My advice would be to try doing some of the exercises after one week of total rest. Make a hybrid routine, mostly cardio recovery and balance exercises, and then after two weeks of completing the program for the first time, go for it again.

Hi. I am going to order this program. I can’t wait to get started, but I’m worried about eating 5 times a day. I am 33 in decent shape – I can do 20 push ups & run 1 mile BUT I haven’t worked out regularly in over 6 mo. I played soccer all my life & ran cross country/track in high school. I never really had trouble with my weight until after college. I’ve put on about 50 lbs & I can’t seem to get rid of it. I guess I have become so frustrated about not loosing weight that I kind of just gave up. I am now a teacher and my schedule doesn’t allow me to eat throughout the day. I have been eating breakfast at about 7:40a, lunch at 11:15, a snack about 4 & dinner at about 7:30 ish. I guess I need to know if this will interfere with results or not. Regardless I feel like I MUST make this commitment. Thank you so much for an honest review.
Here goes nothing:)
-Jamie

I’m glad that you are considering this program. It will definitely change the way you look at fitness.
As far as loosing weight goes, you will be able to notice decent results right away- even after the first week. Don’t worry too much about dieting. Just try to squeeze some fruit here and there as an additional snack, and you are all set. Also try to make your meals protein centered and add some healthy fats into your diet.

The rest is just being determined to push the play button each and every day.
The great thing is that you played sports and the fact that you love them. This will help a LOT.
I recently became a fitness coach, and there is a huge difference between those in my class that played some sport and those who never tried any physical activity whatsoever.

This partially solved my dilemma when one girl in the class who was slightly overweight was able to commit harder than the rest who were already in pretty decent shape. The thing is she played tennis when she was younger. So I guess that being into sports helps quite a lot.

Drop by and leave a comment to let us know how are things going. Good luck, and enjoy Insanity

My husband and I will be starting insanity Monday and we are super excited . I’m a little afraid because I’m not the most athletic in the least , but I’m committed to getting myself into much better shape. Beating hubby is also a good motivation I will not let him complete the program with out me … So here goes nothing
Marie

I’m glad that you decided to enter this together. Recently, I started coaching a group of ten, and I really find it a lot more interesting than doing it alone. Of course sometimes it is also fun to lock yourself up and push pass your limits (leave the fitness nerd alone :) )

As for worrying over whether being the athletic type matters, tell you what- insanity will make you the athletic type :)
I noticed this with my brother. He asked me to give him the set as to try how it goes. He never finished it, but being the least athletic it is peculiar as for how he started going to the gym, became more agile, and recently decided to join the fitness class that I coach. In a way, at least partially, Insanity made him the athletic type. Him and all the others from my group who were, quite honestly, hitherto couch potatoes.

Good luck to the both of you, keep us posted, and ask any question that comes to mind.

Hello. Great review I’m starting insanity on 1/713, and just trying to get a better understanding of the diet. If you consume the calories needed a day does it matter what you eat long as the calories add up, or should it just be the proteins carbs and fats that add up to the calories! Very confused. Also is the recovery drink really needed or is chocolate milk ok? Thanks in advance

Hi Tia,
Following the diet plan which is included in the Insanity program may sometimes, quite honestly, be really hard. Therefore, I would recommend only trying to eat as much of fruit and vegetables as you can, and try to include as much lean protein as possible.
The first week, being hard with all the stress from the workouts, don’t make drastic and sudden changes to your diet, but only try to eat 5 times per day, out of which only 3 main meals, and snacks in between.
Try to add some meat and slightly detach from carbs.
Don’t forget constant hydration, as naive as it may sound.

Then for the rest of the program, just try to eat more fruits and veggies and add even more protein (mostly meat and fish- preferably roasted).

The recovery drink is a plus, but you can go even without it. After each workout see if you can consume some chocolate milk or a spoon or two of honey.

What else? Oh, it is also great to have one day in the week (Sunday comes as the most logical choice) when you can eat whatever that you want, in whatever quantity you find pleasing :)

Take care, and feel free to ask anything as you go through this program.
Good luck

I’m gonna be starting insanity again on sunday the 6th since I want saturday to be my rest day. I’m saying again cuz I have started it last week and I cheated a lot on diet cuz I didn’t have it clear with the whole calories thing. I must say its really hard but I want to get it threw, and I hope I won’t cheat with the diet:)

Congrats Med for the progress!!!
Just add more healthy fats and more fruit- that’s the way I go about it. Also add some more protein and pay an even closer eye to hydration. 7-8 hours of sleep is a must, no excuse there. Remember, you are training like a professional athlete, so rest and take care of your body like one too.

This is such a great review! I am a 17 year old girl and I have been wanting to buy this program for quite some time now. About a year ago, I went on a diet and went from 180 lbs to 156 lbs in three months, but I didnt lose all the body fat around my abdoment, back, and legs. I have always been physically active (I was in Tae Kwon Do for 6 years, playyed soccer for 5 years, and played varsity volley ball during my senior year this year) but I know that Insanity will push the limit of my limit. I ordered Insanity immediately after reading this review, and I cant wait to get it in the mail! I have always had the will power and strength to push myself to physical activity, but, like you said, this is some crazy stuff. I’m trying not to scare myself to the point where I dont even want to try because I know for a fact that this will take away that lingering body fat I have. I just want to know how I can get through that “pre-workout laziness” that is so hard to get through, because once I get through it, I actually enjoy my workout and enjoy the pain and sweat! In other words, how can I keep myself from slacking off?

Hi Victoria
The fact that you are excited about the workouts says quite enough in terms of whether or not you will be committed. With Insanity being as hard as it is, the mental struggle will be accompanied by muscle soreness and feeling fatigue the first couple of days.
I will just advice you to hold onto this excitement which you feel now, as well as know perfectly well your “why” for this workout.
Just get through the first week or two, and then it gets quite addictive. You will feel like a part of this “comradeship” and the Insanity will become your “thing”.
I’m here for any questions.

So I’ve placed my order for the Insanity workout & it’s to arrive Monday! I’m excited to get back in shape. The downside is… that I want to maintain my weight & I’m truly scared that I’ll start shedding it. Also, I don’t want my legs to become skinny or my gluteus maximum to become small! I know there is a calorie equation that I can set up to maintain my weight. But, my question is; Do you think it will shrink my legs in butt? Or will it tone?? thanks!!

It is all toning if you ask me. Eating the right amount of protein ensures muscle building instead of muscle loss. The fat will get melted away.
Regarding the muscle part though, I get asked this a lot by girls- “how big my muscles are going to get?”
To which I always answer- Don’t worry. Not that big in fact.

The thing is, muscle building happens under certain circumstances, the ideal of which are huge stress to the muscle (preferably one muscle group one time per week, like bodybuilders do), a LOT of protein (and have in mind that 200-300 grams of chicken a day is not even close), sleep somewhere in the range of 7 to 8 and a half hours, a lot of hydration, vitamins, minerals…. Some people do all of this and still find it hard to add some lean muscle. And they are at it for years. Oh, and don’t forget Testosterone levels which women cannot even come close to. So my point being- you will get fat loss, hence muscle definition. Some muscle gain too, but all in the lines of aesthetic looks. Nothing excessive if you ask me.
For guys it is almost the same, with of course more muscle added.

Good luck, and don’t worry. The Insanity workout will change you day after day, so you will see immediately whether you like the results or not. Hint- you will ;)

Hi there,
Thanks for the comprehensive review.I found it while I was searching for insanity workout results.I am on my recovery week.I love insanity!!!My question is I have only lost 3 pounds so far.Will I lose more? I have seen results.I’ve lost an inch off my waist and my arms,shoulders,legs are more toned and defined.
My last 2 babies were c sections.I lost the baby weight .Started doing p90 and toned up with p90x.That was 2 years ago.My stomach was toned and flat then too.I would just like my stomach to get back to being flat again.
I eat well and count my calories too.I eat 1200 a day.My question is when is there a much more visible difference with abs?I read many people’s results saying they saw the most difference in the second month.Is this what I should expect?
Again thanks for the review.I actually feel this amazing sense of accomplishment everytime I get done a workout.six days is a lot,but I’m committed.I WANT THAT SHIRT!LOL.
Sincerely,
Marie :)

Seeing a fellow Insanity fanatic around makes my day :) Really!
Well done too Marie. Enjoy your recovery week, give yourself the credit, and get ready for something even more bananas as you start the second month.
As for results, it’s different from one individual to another. I guess I have to say the second month too, since the workouts are getting a lot harder, the overall amount of calories spent increases, you simply add more days to the equation of working out and eating right.

As I stated in the review too- you will notice results even after the two months. In the sense of muscles being there and consuming more calories even while sitting down and watching TV.

As for flattening the stomach, this conversation will pop into your mind when you will do “insane abs” for the first time. You will say- “well you asked for it yourself” :) Believe me, the single most intense workout in the set if I’m to judge. And it is done as a second workout in the day, so…

The shirt is a powerful motivator. It gives this amazing sense of accomplishment- to be given a recognition for what only selected few have endured and are able to brag about. That’s why you will always get a hat down from someone like me and all of the others who tried Insanity- we KNOW how insane it is. For me at least, it transformed not only my body, but my take on fitness, my physical ability which amazes me day after day, my attitude among other things.
Would love to hear how are things going after a while.

I have been doing cardio all my life and only started strength training about 3 months to get stronger and leaner. However, currently I am lifting weights only with zero cardio, which is why I really want to get some cardio into my workout routine.

My questions is, will all my efforts trying to build strength reduce if i stop doing weights for 2 months and focus only on the insanity workout ?

I am female, 5ft, 105lbs. My fitness goals are to become stronger and lean with some muscle definition.

Hi Ashley
That’s a great question you asked. Redefining my vision of fitness by closely following guys like Shaun T and Tony Horton who restlessly advocate the complexity of fitness benefits and fitness in general, it gets strange seeing other people not “getting it” the way I do now. My point being- almost no one here asked about insanity from a performance point of view.

They all want to know about the lose-fat vertical which albeit being important, is not the cornerstone of fitness. My take is that we make our body to perform better, to feel better, to go beyond what it was used to, and the looks come almost as a side result.
Like Shaun T says in the Insanity Asylum infomercial: “In order to look like an athlete you must train like an athlete”.

So back to your question about strength… You will be AMAZED by the results with Insanity workout . I too integrate some weight lifting after an Insanity session once or twice per week, but I keep it minimal ( exercises with dumbbells and some ab work on days when the core is not that engaged, all in the total of 10 or less minutes).
Coaching a group in fitness as of recently, I discovered that the Insanity workout builds strength and performance like nothing of the like. I transformed couch potatoes in fitness machines. They are still not even aware of their strength.

This was brought to a test when a friend of mine (who goes far too often in the gym), underestimating Insanity, challenged me that he can actually do more push-ups, squats, sit-ups… Boy oh boy was he wrong :)

You will feel Insanity building up your strength, but on some occasions you will also feel worn out. This is due mainly to the repetitiveness and targeting almost every muscle group every day. It is also due to the excessive effort it will sometimes take to finish the workouts.

As for the other question on whether you will see muscle definition or not, you will get shredded :) For sure. Just follow the eating pattern, which is mainly more protein and healthy fats and eating more times per day. Taking small percentage off from the carbs may speed up the process, but it will drain your energy, so a little experimenting here and there won’t hurt.

Take care, and feel free to ask more questions if you have them
Good luck with the program :)

Just ordered it! I can’t wait to get started on my insane journey! There is a much healthier, thinner, and MUCH more physically fit girl in me dying to get out! Loved your review! Best, most thorough one I have read so far!

Thanks Amber. As much as I think that the review has a ton of information, it gets even better here in the comment section. Real questions and problems being answered (or at least I try).

Insanity really transformed my life too. Albeit being skeptical at the very beginning, I quickly saw the difference in quality of life. Nowadays I do it as a means of feeling that same level of fitness, that same feeling of being healthy, being strong, flexible, agile…
It also becomes an addiction- a legal way of getting high ;) Not to mention it’s always nice to pass in front of the mirror :)

Furthermore, this workout introduced me to guys like Tony Horton and other fitness advocates that made me a fitness aficionado for life. There is much more to it than just what we see at first sight.

I completed Insanity in November of last year, and I’ve been picking and choosing workouts from month 2 to do over and over again since I cannot stop doing this program anymore! I remember coming across your review in the beginning of my decision to do insanity, and i was hooked! Thanks for introducing me to such an amazing program, I look and feel more amazing than I ever have, and I have developed such strong willpower to just keep pushing through and “digging deeper”, I can eat whatever I want now and not feel guilty about not exercising the same day since I know my metabolism is through the roof. :) Thanks for the awesome reviews!

Hey Jessica, I’m glad it became a part of your lifestyle :)
It offers so much when you think about it. As Tony Horton said about P90X, and this holds true for Insanity as well, it as an indoor program designed for the outdoor world. My point being- not only does it improve your looks and give you the ripped body, but it also allows you to move like never before; be flexible, agile, have a lot of muscle power and endurance. This opens quite a lot of doors in terms of how diverse and adventurous your lifestyle can now be.

Insanity introduced me to fitness in its purest form. Now I became a lifetime advocate of the same.
As of recently I became a fitness coach as well, and only by looking back can I really see how Insanity influenced my life. And having the energy I feel today, the looks, the ability to perform better both physically, as well as emotionally and mentally being there by default, I recommend this program to anybody.

Hi! I am thinking about starting Insanity. Right now I run about 10 miles a week and need more of a challenge to my muscles and core. However, I love running so much and being outdoors – would I have to give it up for 60 days? What is your advice?

I had the same problem when I started doing insanity! I was worried that I would lose my endurance from not running, but I was so very wrong – insanity ups your endurance so much that you can discontinue running for the 60 days and just focus all your energy into this program. I would highly suggest against running AND insanity together; they are both tiresome activities and insanity zaps everything out of you if you’re really pushing yourself. I would give it up for 60 days and come back to it as soon as you finish the program. Pre-insanity, my mile time was at about 8 minutes, and afterwards, I was hitting a 6:17 mile. :)

What Jessica says is true. Insanity will up your game. For sure. After finishing Insanity, and without any particular training, I managed to run the 5k in around 21 minutes.

Regarding the advise of not trying both running and Insanity together; If it is a mile here and there, then it’s quite Ok (if you are super ready, that is). But what concerns me the most is the constant stress you will be putting your ankles under. Insanity involves a lot of jumping, and running might wear down your ankles even further more.

The other thing that I point out to is the nature of the cardio involved in Insanity, and the one associated with running- the first is high intensity cardio with max interval training, whereas the second is low to moderate cardio at best.

When I tried them separately I never had any problems whatsoever, but after trying them both two days in a row I sensed a slight discomfort in my chest. And I’m in a VERY good shape, so be aware.

Hi Sarah,
Running is a great cardio exercise. Giving it up would mean, for the average outdoor junkie at least, a great sacrifice. Here is the thing though- you can exchange one of the more cardio oriented days from Insanity with running, and that way still be able to both witness great results, as well as enjoy your thing. (though trust me, Insanity will soon become your thing :)

Insanity is designed to last for two months, and be hard as hell. If you are not into the rush and after chasing numbers on the scale, then by all means you can make it last longer, or even customize. Let’s say, for example, that with one or two days running per week (instead of doing the workouts) you can extend the length of the program.

Another suggestion would be to do the exercises, and then try some running here and there. First couple of weeks it is out of the picture (just let your body adapt for a while), but then, the moment you feel strong enough, you can squeeze a mile or two every next day.

Hi there on day 3 of insanity totally blown away by how good you feel after the workouts…I’ve only just started but can already feel my abs and over all muscles feel tighter and harder.great review good luck to every one remember Aslong as your pushing yourself then you will see results :)

Great job on your review! I really enjoyed reading it. I’m thinking about starting the insanity workout, but I have a disadvantage: I’m a smoker. I have a feeling you dont smoke yourself, but do you think the insanity program is suitable for a smoker like me? I hope you can advise me.

Hi Jo
Great question there, since I talked about it a lot with some friends of mine, but never discussed it here though. As of recently I became a fitness coach, doing most of the Insanity workout exercises with my group, and the experience is great. One of the people in my group is a smoker. Not knowing what to tell him at first, I started doing some research as to get together some facts just in order to convince him to quit.
He never did though, and it’s been three months now since he had joined the group. At first he complained some, about being short of breath and everything, but after a while he said that it was not that big of a deal.

I suppose that maximizing the VO2 max capacity was what made the difference. It might be hard the first week or two maybe, but then, as your VO2 max increases, the smoking is going to make very small of a difference.
You can also do some breathing exercises once or twice per day as to improve your VO2 max even more (I did this when I was running 5K’s). Insanity transforms not only the looks- it’s way deeper than that. My lungs are now like that of an athlete- I can do my uphill biking without even noticing a change in my breathing rhythm.

Of course it depends on how much you smoke and many other factors for that matter, but I think it will not be a problem.

All the best, and please give us some feedback if you do start with it. I guess that other people too are thinking about this.

Your review was very informative.
I am currently over halfway finish with Insanity:The Asylum. I am a 19 year old college student and have been playing sports since I was 4 and lifting weights since the 7th grade. I am a solid young lady (200lbs mainly muscle) but my problem is the fat that is still covering my abs. I know I have them because I can feel them, but they can’t be seen due to the little bit of fat still there. I will say that I have seen some change, but I think that more could happen. The meal plan wants us to eat 5-6 meals a day, but by me being in school, I can only get three and the options are not like what is recommended; however, I make healthy choices with what is offered and outside of school as well. I was wondering was there any advice you could give me as to how I could burn more fat along with Insanity workout . My six pack is there and waiting to be shown off. Thanks in advance!

Hey Missy
The asylum? Wow, congrats :) Another ball game over there. I haven’t tried the Asylum yet, so the nature of the exercises is still unknown to me. It is harder alright, way harder, but I doubt if the exercises are as much cardio oriented as those in the Insanity. Meaning- if there are exercises so hard, that they are done with lower amount of reps, then they are probably more muscle building oriented. And in order to see those abs, you need cardio; a lots of it.

Anyway, just guessing here.
When it comes to the food, it is probably what makes the biggest difference. The diet plan is great to follow, but not as much as one might think. It is rather a blueprint for eating healthy, and can be copied, customized, arranged to fit your lifestyle. The thing is, some rules need to be met. Like for example eating 5-6 times per day. Like the 40-40-20 rule when it comes to protein, carbs, fats. Also, fats need to be monounsaturated or omega 3,6,9… Now here comes the customization- carbs are usually for energy and in case you don’t need that much, you can increase the protein intake on the expense of carbs. I did that and my abs started to show.
You say you are half way finished with the program; be patient- some people see better results the last week than they did the first three. And having in mind that Asylum is 30 days, you cannot expect miracles in 15. Up the protein intake, go low on the carbs (not that much), and try consuming healthy fats.
Oh, another thing, try to make your carb consumption mainly from fruits and vegetables. And here are some foods that will help you burn fat tissue even fasterhttp://www.lifestyleupdated.com/2012/03/30/healthy-eating-habits-foods-that-burn-fat/

There is a chance I may be able to do this workout, yet I know that I’ll need the diet plan to achieve the results I want, I was wondering if you would be able to tell me how much following the diet plan would cost a week/month.

Hi Karl,
I haven’t followed the diet plan, but instead kept to its main rules. Besides, I’m from Europe, so it’s hard to tell a definite number. Having lived in the States for a while, and going through some calculations and examining the meal plan again, I will give you a rough estimate of 400-500$ per month. If you follow by the letter. If you try and pick the cheapest options though, or go with the listed substitutes, then I guess it comes some 100$ lighter.

I achieved great results even without this EXACT diet plan. The rules are to eat 5-6 times per day, make your diet 40% protein, 40% carbs, 20% healthy fats. Try and make your carb intake to be consisted mainly of veggies and fruits, and over time increase protein on the expense of carbs. Avoid alcohol, almost everything out of a box, and maybe add some protein shakes or powder.

This review was very informative! I have actually tried the insanity workout with a friend once and it was tough! I have really been trying to reach my fitness goals and I really want to start the insanity workout. This may be a dumb question but while doing this program are you still supposed to do other forms of exercise, like I usually run a couple times a week, would I still need to do this? Also I track what I eat in a food journal, so I am counting calories and try to stay under the goal and all that. As far as the workouts are concerned around how many calories are we burning here? I understand that we we are consuming 40% protein and 20% fat and either 40 or 20% carbs but what about calories, I know calorie consumption usually depends on the person and all that but just a rough estimate would be nice. Sorry for all the questions I just want to have all my facts straight before I start.

Hey Travis, great questions there.
As for additional form of exercise, I will advice against it. Maybe some light form of physical activity like cycling on weekends, one or two miles jogging per week, or some swimming. Running I especially advice against, since at the beginning there is a lot of jumping involved in the program. Add running before your joints and ankles are used to all that stress, and you are likely to be injured.
Besides, if you feel that you need more exercise, just try to push yourself harder on each workout. The great thing is that not even the coaches that participate in the videos can go all the way, so there- a challenge.

Regarding the calories thing; it’s simple really- calories from protein are not the same as calories from unhealthy fats. Don’t bother that much with it. Aim for more protein in your diet, make carb intake to consist mainly of veggies and fruits, and when it comes to sugar take a spoon or two of honey per day. As for fats, see to it that they are monounsaturated or omega 3,6,9.
Calories burned are really hard to measure. It all depends. Depends on your weight (if you are overweight you spend more- more weight to move), depends on your body type, depends on your cardio levels, depends on sex (guys burn more calories), depends on how hard you push yourself (if both you and I start the exercises, and one of us rests for 5 minutes more than the other then we cannot talk about both of us burning the same amount of calories), depends on natural predispositions (the same as some people are able to build muscle tissue faster), depends on how much muscle you have (more muscle burns a lot more calories even while sleeping or watching TV), depends on the length of exercises (second month ones are longer) etc. So don’t really worry about that. I would guess somewhere around (give or take 200) 1000 calories. If you push yourself really hard.

Feel free to ask anything else about the program.
Take care my friend, and keep us posted.

Thanks you all that information was very helpful. I always seem to get confused when I hear to make something a certain percentage of my diet. So in terms of grams could u give me examples of how much I would need to intake as far as protein, carbs, and fats. I am 5’11 and weigh 165 if that helps any. Also I know salmon and other fishes have good fats, what other foods besides that contain the good fats that I will need.

Hey Travis,
For grams of protein, it’s recommended to consume somewhere around 1-1.5 per kilogram. Maybe 1.8 if you want to see more of a muscle growth.
As for healthy fats, you can eat peanuts, nuts, almonds, macadamia nuts, hazelnuts, avocado, sunflower seeds, olive oil, olives, cereal, oatmeal, red meat…

Last year I did 2 weeks of insanity and I stopped. Now Im doing hip hop abs and sometimes I will throw in a little pure cardio or cardio abs from insanity. I want to try the entire insanity program but I am terrified. I remember while doing it last year I used to fear my workouts as I thought this guy was trying to kill me. I was always perplexed by Shawn saying take a break if you need to but in the very next breath he is saying dont stop lol. Your review and the feedback of other individuals has persuaded me to start next Monday and this time I am going to see it through to the end. IM READY! Im starting at 5.7″ and 137lbs. I will check in a few weeks from now. Thank you for providing the boost that I needed.

I’m glad that I helped in making your decision Abby. But truth is, you are the one who has decided and is now ready to commit. So give yourself the credit, because this is the hardest part- to be determined to see it through the end. I’m glad that you started the workout, it’s a life changer. The feeling at the very beginning is great too; I can relate, since I started The Asylum yesterday (prepare for another gigantic review in 30 days :)

If you need help with the accountability, drop us a line here and there and tell us how are things going. Good luck and enjoy your transformation :)

Hey, yeah, so i started the workout about two weeks ago and i even learned things on your review that i didn’t know, you were also completely right about seeing the changes within one week. I just have one question, i have about 17% body fat all really in my stomach/belly area, will that disappear as i finish the 60 day, I’d like a flat stomach with abs, of course if i eat right?

How strong does the floor need to be? I’m in a terraced house apartment, so am worried about the strength of the floors when it comes to the jumping work. Is there much power jumping? Could an average floor handle it? I don’t have a ground or basement floor.

Hey Ginny, to tell you the truth I’m not really sure. It should be OK, I guess. And as far as power jumping goes there are couple of exercises when you really have to jump high, other than that the majority of the exercises are either without jumping too high, or not jumping at all.
It all depends on the floor however, and I’m not sure what we are talking about here.

If you decide to try we would really love to hear how things went. I’m sure others are thinking about this too.

I think that couple of beers per week can not affect your results at all (I mean sure, it will be great to eat everything right down to the last gram, but this will not have a noticeable effect).

As for staying accountable and sharing your progress with others, just go to the official Beachbody site and sign up. They have message boards and forums, as well as lot of contests where you can enter to win a prize. Also, drop a line here from time to time as to keep us posted and let us know how are thing going.

The eating plan is healthy, very organic, and mostly protein centered. This being said it can cost slightly more than what you would spend on average. However, it all depends on your eating habits. If you ordered food so far, or ate at restaurants, this will come as a relief in terms of finances. You can always tweak though- just keep close to the basic principles outlined in the guide and you will see the same results.

Thanks for the great info – and I apoligize in advance if you have already answered my question with someone else –
My situation: turned 55yo TODAY and I’m in need of getting back into shape. It is way over time to do this and I’m motivated to get it done. I think this system is ideal for me except for the intensity. So my question is – is it ok to do this system in a modified way, adjusting it to my current ability? Or is this system really best suited for those who can start out hitting the ground running – literally! I guess I’m looking for Insanity LITE. Does one exist? Can you recommend a different program that incorporates a similar method?

Hi Dan,
It’s really admirable that you are ready to invest yourself fully in getting back into shape when people half your age are afraid to try. So kudos for that!
As far as intensity goes, you’ve raised an important question here. There are lot of people willing to try the program, but might end up with an injury of some kind. And such a concern is absolutely legit,
Here is the thing though- Insanity is all about various compound movements that, if you like, can be modified. Afraid to jump the first week? March in place; Cannot make the push-ups? do a variation with the knees on the ground; Cardio too much? slow it down etc…

The thing about such programs is that you are constantly pushing pass your limits. And that’s enough. That’s why I can do insanity today and get results even with my physique. It pushes everyone pass THEIR limits. The yoga poses and stretching is such a nice addition to the program and it keeps you injury free, as well as strengthens your joints and muscles, assuring faster progress performance wise.
As for recommending another program, I will guess that P90X comes as a second close, but the max interval training incorporated in Insanity is something really revolutionary. It’s a track and field methodology of training, designed to make you faster, stronger, leaner.

Finally, no one says that you must do the videos in the order given. I for one, after finishing the workout, and even finishing Insanity:Asylum (twice as hard), am doing a schedule of my own where I put one DVD one day and another the next according to what I want to train the most for. Similarly, you can start with the cardio recovery videos and then just see if you can do the harder ones. That is, if you don’t really care for 60 days optimal and max results. Funny to say this, but for me Insanity (this type of training) has become a part of my fitness training, part of my lifestyle on the long run.

Shot a question if you have a problem deciding; or visit us again and drop a line just to say what you did. I would really love to know how will things turn out if you decide to start the program.

I just completed my first month,,,and into my 2nd day of recovery…if thats what you wanna call it..like mentioned above…ITS WORKING AND IM LOVING IT……Dont hesitate just go and do it…set your mind and go for it….give it all you got and you will love it!!!!

Hey Slavko,
I was hoping u could help me out. I ordered insanity n should be receiving it in a couple days. It’s been a long time since I actually worked out but I ordered insanity because I know I have the mentality to do it and NOT quit, especially how bad I want to lose weight. My main problem tho is that I will be moving to an apartment in a couple weeks on the 2nd floor and I’m worried about the noise since the DVDs have a lot of jumping. Any advice on what I could do to lessen the noise? Maybe workout mats, do u think this would help?

I would also like to know what protein shakes/drinks u recommend since I couldn’t really afford the shakeology drinks. Also what protein bars are good to eat? Any advice would be greatly appreciated! Thanks =)

The misconception is that Shakeology is a protein shake. It is not- it is a meal replacement. So if you eat healthy, then you really do not need Shakeology.
As for protein shakes you can try the Rest and Recovery formula or go with whey protein (I find this to be great). When it comes to bars I cannot really give you any advice.

Ok thank u so much for the advice. I’ll definitely keep posted along my insanity journey cuz it’s nice talking to people who have already done it or are currently doing it. Plus u also give great advice as I’ve read from all the other comments above. I do have one more question tho, have u tried the Muscle Milk? It seems to be pretty popular n I wanted to try it. also the special k drinks (meal replacement), what u think? I eat healthy but I want something quick for in the morning or after working out.

“Your biggest challenge is in your head” -Exactly!
Kudos for your effort too! And it’s not only about the weight, you’ve definitely added some muscle mass too, as well as increased your speed, agility, flexibility, balance, range of motion… It’s not only weight loss, it’s much, much more.

aaaaaaahhhhhhhh…..all my soreness has returned…just like week one….this second month is really going to try me for sure,,,,,,im excited and kinda disapointed that im on the back side..but still got three weeks and 2 days left,,,yes i am addicted to this…hey Nina ive been eating Cliff builder bars,,,and Zone Perfect..the cliff have 20gprotien and really stick with ya…i also Drink Core Power…the honey one is great,,,chocolate is good..have not tried any others,,,i went from 216.8 down to 190 in the first month watching my calories and balancing…fruits….veggies..whole grains…salmon …chicken breast…cottage cheese…kashi cereal…protein english muffin pizza…roast beef and turkey cold cuts..on 15grain bread.all the good stuff and NONE of the junk….ohhh,,,and i do drink about all the Black Coffee i can hold…morning and night,,,decaf at night…the protein bars are like treats with the chocolate in em..i feel guilty eating them,,so i throw in an apple or banana…..

*so im gona start tomorrow. well im gona do the fit test over the weekend then start day 1 on monday. so I see u lost alot of weight, did u lose alot of inches as well? how soon did u start seeing results?@Chad

The fit test is somewhere under 30 minutes, and judging by that alone it is the easiest workout. However, the point of the fit test is to push yourself as to see your limits and how much you can push. Taking this into consideration it is clear that you will push yourself more than you should. This, at least for me, makes the fit test one of the hardest workouts.

i did lose inches,,,visibly in the mirror and the way my blue jeans fit and my belt is down to the last hole ..gonna need a new belt….i remember seeing and feeling results in the first three days,,,my weight dropped very rapidly in the first two weeks i had lost 11 pounds ..i did not however take any measurements..i did however take pics,,,i really wanted to earn that T-shirt…i really like t shirts,, im a blood donor and always enjoy getting a Tshirt at the sign in…
I think i would just do the fit test once….get started on the workout as soon as you can so you keep your excitement…follow the program to a T and the Elite Nutrition Guide and you will also be on your way to a Lifestyle change….that is what this program is to me…a total lifestyle change
My wife is in this with me so it does make it a lil easier to push through,,she has seen success in her first 30 days…she lost right at 9 pounds and she too feels 20xs better in her life…she is a CPA and spends a lot of time behind a desk ..she says she no longer has that tired feeling during the day,,,has more confidence..walks a lil prouder…and with a lil more hop n her step…she is happy for me and my progress but is a lil jealous of the weight loss..but i just remind her im a guy…Good luck and keep us posted on your progress….

wow u did have some amazing results then, congrats! oh n congrats to ur wife too. I hope I see some amazing results too! although i am nervous that I wont cuz im finding it very hard to follow the nutrition guide. I’m eating healthy, jus not the way the book says. I also don’t have the shakeology or any protein powder/drinks so I’m hoping this doesn’t effect my results.

Ok so after doing this for almost 2 weeks I can definitely say that I have noticed a difference in my body which is great because it has only been two weeks. I did want to clear some things up though before I got further into the program. I do not follow the nutrition guide word for word but I also do not eat bad. I still for the most part go by the 20% fat 40% carbs 40% protein, I eats lots of whole grain and I drink nothing but water and maybe a few cocktails every now and again. I do have one day a week where I just don’t really focus on it and eat whatever, I mean I don’t get crazy or anything. I just want to know how everyone else is doing this because I am sure not every person who does this workout follows the guide word for word. I just want to make sure that I am still going to see the results that I want, I don’t skip workouts and I always give 100% in the workout. Starting insanity I had already lost about 65 lbs and my reason for doing insanity was to lose the last 10 lbs and also tone up, I don’t want to be huge and bulky it’s not my things just tone up.

I’m with you on the nutrition side. And never forget, the book is not a definite blueprint or a formula; it is rather an introduction into healthy eating habits. If you want to add some mass just add more protein.

Hi Chad. Just started the 60 day program after looking for something different, having tried many times to get the look I wanted. I have a question, over the next 3 weeks I have a 10 mile run and 2 cycle rides, 140 miles over 2 days and 85 miles on one day. Do I try and do the scheduled workouts on those days as well – I think that would be a pretty tall order – do I skip a day or do I just start doing things the day after?

Over-training is bad any way you try to spin it. So my answer is- no.
When I was doing Asylum, I was tempted to do the full class of fitness exercises I was coaching (physical exercise is addictive to me at this point :). Once I did this, I realized the downside almost instantly. It means that the next couple of days your muscle will be fatigue, meaning less muscle recovery hence less muscle growth, and not being able to burn enough calories during the workouts due to the same problem. Skip the workouts on those days.

well today was my second day of insanity n wow I couldnt believe how hard it was. I was disappointed at how many times I had to stop but I keep reminding myself its only the second day, so of course Im not gonna be a pro yet. well I jus wanted to know how everybody else was doing n wish u the best! we can do this!

I was the same at the very beginning. Two weeks in, I was in better shape (performance wise) than almost 90% of the people I know. Then came Asylum, a different ball game. I slightly envy how much room for progress you have in front of you :P You will be amazed how quickly the performance improves.

Ok so Im doing my 4th week of insanity right now and I don’t know if I am not doing something right or maybe I am just being dramatic. I do the workout every day I am supposed to and I give it my all every time. Diet wise I follow the main point of the nutrition guide as far as how much fat protein and carbs we are supposed to consume but I do not eat the foods in there. I have not lost a pound, in fact I gained 2 pounds. My body feels different though like I can tell a difference in stomach area it is not where I want it yet. As far as my chest goes that is where I am concerned I want to tone it the most but I have not really seen a difference in it. Is anyone else experiencing these kinds of things. I hope I am just being paranoid. It definitely took some motivation away to step on the scale and see that I gained the 2 lbs. I am not trying to lose a bunch more weight just 10 lbs or so. Any help would be nice!

Hi Paul
I’m really surprised to say the least. Here is what I think…
It is possible that you’ve lost fat tissue but gained more muscle mass (sounds strange, but still…) and now it shows on the scale. Forget the scale for a second and take the mirror as a judge. The clothes too. Do they fit better?
If this is the case, it means that you’ve build more muscle which is a great thing. That means that in the following week or two it will start draining fat tissue faster.

Couple of questions too..
Do you feel like you can speak while doing the exercises? If so, you are not giving you best.
And do you do all the exercises without taking significant amount of rest? When you rest, how does it look like? Are you just standing, or are you slightly unable to catch breath?

There is a big difference between what pushing hard means for one person and another. If you can do almost all the exercises without that much of a break, and can easily breathe while resting it means that objectively you are not pushing enough.

I think that this is probably not the case, but I cannot seem to think of another reason. Write your diet here if you don’t mind too.

Cheers my friend and keep doing what you are doing for now, do not lose motivation!

Yeah I had thought about that too, I heard muscle weighs more than fat so I thought maybe that was it. Clothes do fit better definitely. As far as the exercises go I havent tried speaking before but I would assume I couldn’t because I’m usually so out of breath. I wish I could make it through without taking breaks but I cannot. Usually when I rest I’m guzzling water trying to catch my breath or down on the floor. I think the first time I did pure cardio it brought me to tears. Diet wise I usually stay around 1500 to 1700 calories and 150 grams of carbs and 34 grams of fat per day I should be consuming 150 grams of protein per day but I usually don’t get that much. Breakfast I usually eat an egg or two or maybe oatmeal. Lunch is usually some kind of sandwich or a salad and greek yogurt. Dinner almost always has vegetables and is usually baked chicken or maybe a turkey burger with no bun. Saturday I usually go out so I have a few drinks and dinner but i don’t over eat. One thing with eating right that I have ran into is I feel like I’m running out of options.

Try to minimize the carbs some more, maybe skip them for dinner. Also, start eating cruciferous vegetables like broccoli and cabbage, which contain Indole 3 carbinol- a compound that will open the fat tissue beta receptors and allow faster fat tissue melting. Spicing your food with curry helps in a similar matter (it contains turmeric).

Drink water constantly, and start eating healthy fats like nuts, almonds, olives, olive oil and fish. Try to ditch the yogurt for a while. See how things go energy wise.

I began Insanity yesterday with the fit test. I’m 36 and a single mom of two. 5’7″, 123.5lbs. Fit test kicked my butt. I’m a bit sore today. Will be sticking to this and the nutrition guide 100%. I already eat healthy, but it’s the combinations I think that are key. I want to tone, tone, tone and be fit. Thank you for your review, very comprehensive. If I can do this, and make the time with two kids and a very full life, everyone can. If we can’t give ourselves 45 mins-1 hour a day just for ourselves, there is no point in living. All about balance! The laundry can wait!!!

hi I had a question u may or may not be able to answer but any advice would be good. Before I got insanity I was taking Liporexall (a weight loss supplement) and I found it helps give me that extra boost of energy and also helps me digest my food alot better. well when I received my insanity I stopped taking it because I got a different supplement w/my package. its called Daily Nutritional Advantage Metabloism Formula. (has the exact ingredients of the Activit). anyway these dnt seem to do anything for me but I like all the ingredients it has in it. Jus wondering which one u recommend I take? sry for the long msg.

I never had experience with any of them, so I don’t really know. But if we are talking about digestion problems, start with upping the fiber intake, like eating more apples. This usually helps me a lot. Oh, and forget about weight loss supplements. They might interfere with the natural process of loosing the fat tissue and building muscle.

It really depends. There are some exercises where you have to do a low plank (underarms on the grass), and that usually hurts. But then again it is really a matter of both texture and quality of the grass too. Me and my girlfriend just started doing Insanity as a supplement on our 5k run, and we usually do it on the grass, outside.

Hey Nina….its Going great…seems i gained 4 pounds during the recovery week but i think it was muscle gain,,i seem to be a lil more toned…i have hit the 186 mark wich drops my total weight loss to 30 pounds,,, i have set my target at 175 to 180 by the end of the next two weeks,,,,not sure i will make it but i sure am going to work my hardest…..i cant thank beach body and Shaun T enough for this incredible thing they call INSANITY….and also like to give Kudos To Slavko for such a great review and for staying current all the forum and always being there to answer questions….thanks again ..love the dedication……Nina…you hanging in there,,,? you working had and getting that Diet plan worked out….???…..i hope you have began to see success,,,just remember…you Can Do This… thanks Friends…..Chad

I feel great seeing that there are people who feel just the same about this workout (fitness and healthy lifestyle in general) as I do. Once you try this lifestyle there is no coming back- it’s addictive.

hey chad thats great im glad things are going good for u! & yea im sure the 4 pounds was definately from muscle gain! Things are going pretty good for me. I jus finished the first week n am already startin to feel stronger. the work outs are still pretty hard and I still have to take breaks but im tryin n I kno ill get better. im not really stickin to the nutrition guide but I am earin healthy and eatin lots of fruits and vegetables. do u think ill still see good results? Is the second month as hard as they say it is?

The second month is really hard, but you are getting better so it’s balanced in a way.
As for the meal plan you can succeed without it too. As I mentioned earlier in the comments it is not a definite formula, but rather a guide that will help you get going when it comes to forming healthy eating habits.
And results will definitely come. Forget about the inches and therms like “rewarding yourself” with a snack. This imposes a regime in a way. Remember, Insanity helps you to not only look great but redefine your lifestyle.

hEY Nina… i stick strictly to the plan and my wife does not…..i have lost 30 pounds and she has lost 9…she is losing inches and her arms are toning …this could be a woman thing too…i think as long as your eating smart,,and staying away from the junk,,,you should be just fine…just hafta find what works for you…i just trust the experts …i had know idea what to eat,,,but it turns out i was already eating a lot of what was in the Elite Nutrition guide,,,i just had to cut out the bad,,,Beer,,Mt Dew(Code Red)…Fast Food on occasion…and all the other crap i was putting in my body….i do eat a lot of protein now… Nature Valley makes a couple of Really good Protein bars,,,i dont use sundays to just eat what i want,,,i stick with my meal plans all seven days…i did however reward myself the other day with 2 Sugar cookies with my coffee for the weight loss,,,o my god the sugar was so sweet they were sooooooooooooooo good…..they just melted n my mouth and i savored every last calorie…all 170 of them..lol….i did xtra after my workout to work em off,,,thats how guilty i still feel when i put that in my body now
ok…..im rambling…second 30 days…Shaun T and the gang are prepping you now for the second 30 days…the soreness you felt n the first day will return again,,,its like starting all over again…its going to shock your body again and really start toning you out….your going to start taking breaks again more often and finding yourself outta breath again,,,but you will be fine by the second week and finding you can hang n a lil longer and be a lil stronger and faster….if it was easy everyone would do it,,,, just push through and prepare yourself now as much as you can…and you will be just fine…..

oh ok well u sound like ur doing great sticking to ur diet and workouts. no wonder why youve lost 30 pounds. wow, thats all im thinkin lol. well even tho I dont stick to the meal plans I did cut out alot of junk I was eating and also only drink water. i know I can do better tho so I think im gonna get more strict on myself. I still got 3 weeks to prepare for the second month so im gonna start pushin myself harder.

More fruits and vegetables is a great start. These are rich with complex sugars, ones that are easy to dissolve in your body, and at the same time provide steady stream of energy boost.

Another thing would probably be protein rich diet that will help with faster muscle repair. Oh and do drink a lot of water, but throughout the entire day. Small sips, constant hydration. Multivitamins play a great role in increasing energy, since they contain vitamins that are crucial for your body to function properly even in a situation that doesn’t resemble the conditions of the Insanity program.

Getting your eight hours of sleep (this varies from one person to another) is also a must.

All these are lifestyle factors, but the main problem when it comes to not being able to finish the workouts is probably muscle fatigue above all else. The obvious answer would be more protein as to repair the muscles, and maybe some natural sugar (honey) before the workouts. Oranges might also help since they contain electrolytes which allow for better physical performance.

I’ve just answered this one, but here it is again:
“It really depends. There are some exercises where you have to do a low plank (underarms on the grass), and that usually hurts. But then again it is really a matter of both texture and quality of the grass too. Me and my girlfriend just started doing Insanity as a supplement on our 5k run, and we usually do it on the grass, outside.”

you may not be eating enough throughout your day????? Getting atleast 8hrs of sleep…Good sleep?………………if i happen to not get my 4th meal of the day i to feel drained,,,so i always try to eat prior to my workouts,,,usually about 2 hrs before and than about an hour after….i think Slavko mentions working out outside…id just be sure to have a slip resistant surface…and be prepared for bad weather,,,other than that if you are comfortable doing it outside,,,Go for it…..
In 2weeks i will send in my pics and i guess it will be up to them for the shirt

Awesome!!! Congrats! I hope to be you some day. I’m planning on doing this in September, when there wont be a gym I can easily get too. I have terrible eating habits so I am scared but also can’t wait to start eating properly. Do you find yourself often hungry with this diet or is it not like that?

I eat a lot of high protein foods… i never ate 5 times a day before so i really almost never feel hungry throughout the day,,,i eat breakfast at 600 am,,,snack at 9am…lunch at 1130am another snack at 130 pm and i eat my last meal with my family at around 630 or 7 pm everyday except saturdays n sundays,,,my snack times and lunch times vary,,,,i almost hafta force myself to eat or to remember to eat on the weekends…just start to make it a habit,,,if you start feeling hungry you can add on once you start going INSANE

soo I jus finished the last day of week 2 and feel pretty good except for one thing, my ankles/feet hurt like hell. I dont know whats wrong with them but the’yve been hurting real bad the last 3-4 days. what sucks the most is I cant perform my best during the workouts because the running and jumping parts hurt real bad. any idea whats wrong n what I should do about it? I really dont want to stop or take a break with the workout at all ( which is probably what I should do) but I wont. so I jus wanted some advice on this problem that im having.

It all depends from one person to another, but it is a general rule of thumb that before doing Insanity some stress on the muscles and especially joints and ankles is welcomed. Any other way and it comes all too sudden causing pain or even worse- injury.

How are the ankles now? Do they still hurt?

If the pain is increasing, then it is wise to change the schedule. Try this- do not stop with the program, but instead change the videos in the calendar. Do cardio recovery for two to three days and see if there is a change pain wise. It should get better, since this video is not hard upon your ankles and contains a lot of stretching and balance moves- something your body definitely needs now. The stretching in combination with the balance moves will help you strengthen the muscles supporting the joints, and this with the lack of the usual stress appointed by the jumping will improve your condition.

yea they still hurt but seem to be getting better. they are still a little swollen tho. im guessing its mostly from the plyometric cardio circuit video cuz every time I do this one my ankles start hurtin real bad. (probably from all the jumping). I love the great workout in this one so I would hate to not do it, but if it helps with my ankles then maybe ill give it a try n do the other dvd like u said. ill let u kno how this goes.

well I weighed myself hopin to see results after 2 weeks n was disappointed to see that I didnt even lose one pound. it was pretty discouraging and I almost thought about giving up. but then I took my pictures to compare them to the ones before insanity n I was pretty impressed. I definately am starting to see results. so even tho the scale isnt changing, atleast I know my body is.

Your picture in the mirror says it all. I can go on an on about how the weight scale is the most unnecessary piece of equipment ever invented. One pound can mean both fat tissue or lean muscle. The weight scale will never tell the difference. The mirror will.

Another thing- muscle and fat weight the same but muscle is denser and occupies less space. Hence everything fits better :)

yea thats true. but it didnt say I lost any body fat either which I didnt understand cuz it actually said I gained body fat. so im assuming my scale might not be very accurate, I dont know. I havent seen much results in the stomach area but I did see theresults in my back and arms. is it

Hi Slavko, great review thank you very much.. Can you advise on doing heavy weight sessions three times a week at the same time as doing insanity. In other words, three days a week, waking up and doing weight sessions in the gym, followed by Insanity six times a week after work.. I have been weight training for 5 or 6 months already..

Hi Sam,
Insanity wears you down a lot actually, so doing heavy training as a plus will be very unwise. You can skip Insanity workouts one or two days as to do the heavy weight lifting sessions.
Or, the deluxe package of Insanity has a video titled upper body strength, which is actually a combination of Insanity cardio moves plus heavy weight bodybuilding exercises. You can do this video twice a week.

I know about how a fitness addiction can be pretty hard to cross around. No one says that Insanity must be done in two months. If you enjoy your weight lifting continue by all means, do Insanity every other day, there is no hurry.

I’ve done Insanity twice now and this is by far the best review out there. You tell it exactly as it is. I want to begin the Asylum next but am looking for a great review on that as well *hint hint*. No, just kidding, but have you had a chance to try Asylum? I’d like to know what you think! Take care.

Thanks man, and kudos for completing Insanity twice!
I completed Asylum and I kinda like it even more (more complex exercises, cross fit training, fun and engaging athletic moves). And it is bananas hard!!! And btw, I did made a review, here it is :)) *hint* slightly bigger than this one :)http://www.lifestyleupdated.com/the-insanity-asylum-review/

So I’m currently playing college football but I am home on my summer vacation for the next few months. I’ve been looking for a really good cardio workout that l can try and I’ve always heard great things about Insanity Workout and I’m really stoked to get started on it, especially because of this review!! I already ordered it and reading this review made me that much more excited!

I was just wondering, I received a workout manual that requires a pretty good heavy lifting workout that I was planning on doing in the mornings, just three times a week, and then doing this workout in the afternoon, do you think it might be too much doing both? I’ve read on so many reviews about how hard it is, and theres no doubt in my mind that it will be, I just wanna make sure, from somebody that has completed the workout, if I might possibly be over working my body. I have been through some very tough workouts for football, but I’m jacked up to give Insanity a try!!

You are in for a game my friend. It will be tough, believe me. Especially since you already have that “push pass your limits” mentality from training football. And Insanity is a strange program indeed- the more you push the harder it gets and better the results overall. In other words, there is no limit to what you can accomplish.

Now when it comes to weight lifting, the deluxe package does actually have a video titled “Upper body strength”. It’s a combination of both heavy sets and reps with cardio moves from the Insanity program. You can do this video two times per week.

The other question that you have- whether it will be hard to do both Insanity Workout as well as weight lifting, it most definitely will. I understand that football requires a lot of power and that comes from weight lifting above anything else. Here is my solution to this one. I made another review on this site about Insanity: The Asylum. It offers some perks that Insanity cannot provide for, and quite frankly, given your situation and goals (I gather that weight loss is not your primarily reason, but you aim for increased performance) it might be a better choice. Asylum is meant for athletes. It lasts 30 days, and combines a wide palette of complex moves that will make you a machine performance wise. It incorporates strength training too (weight lifting, though it is more of a cross fit oriented program), and is quite harder than Insanity.

Another thing that you might do is to keep your weight lifting as part of your routine, and do Insanity Workout videos every other day. No one says that the program “must” be done in 60 days. Everyone has different goals and if some are aiming for fat loss and looks, others are maybe striving for increased performance. I for one never stopped doing Insanity. Even after completing the Asylum, even after incorporating cycling and running into my schedule. I dedicate one day for this and the next for that.

Tell me what you think about this, or any question that you might have.

I’m almost in my 4th week, and i’m loving it. I’m really looking forward to my next training (never taught i would say that).
And the results are pretty good. I see the inches melt away, and al my clothes fit a lot better. So thats great. But, the only thing that did not changed… is my weight. Thats i almost exactly the same as when i started (in the 1st week i lost about 4 lbs, but that is it).
And i do need to lose a lot of weight. I’m about 25 kg over-weight. I’m eating healthy whit allot of vegetables, and fruit, drink lots of water, and don’t drink alcohol anymore, except for 1 day a week a glass of wine.
I read allot, that the real weight lost begins in month 2. Is this true?

Hey Sam,
That’s partially true. For one, the workouts get crazier hence providing for better results. But what is more important is the muscle gain you’ve made during month one that will take care of the weight for you.
As for now, the discrepancy you see between the scale and in the mirror and body measurements can suggest only one thing- Namely, the scale shows nothing whereas the other measurements show progress- The thing is, from my experience, that you’ve gained some muscle mass and loss equal amount of body fat. The scale is thus still in status quo.

This is evident mostly because you say that everything fits better (one pound of muscle weights the same as fat tissue does, but is denser, hence occupying less space.)

What will happen now, is you getting even more muscle, and loosing even twice the fat tissue you lost up until now. Even more probably.

Just one-two things to ask. SHould i Weight the food before or after the food was cooked? for example pasta weights less before cooking. Shrimps the opposite. so the portion of the meals is based on before or after cooking?

one more thing to ask. after the workout i used to have a drink with whey protein and fruits. it is calculated as an additional meal or not? should i omit the 4th meal from the pdf list with the recovery drink or to add it as a 6th meal?

Weighting the food comes as a rough estimate for what I can tell. In regards to the whole of the nutrition plan, I approached it rather differently. Namely, I used the plan as a blueprint in healthy eating, not following everything down to the T.

Measuring everything down to the gram can be very ineffective due to couple of reasons, one of which is various differences from one individual to another. No one can precisely calculate your energy demands and following something in that direction of thought can in fact slow your progress. Take a rough estimate judging by the nutrition plan and see how you feel.

The other reason why this is ineffective is stressing additionally after the program is over. No one can continue such a strict regimen in dieting. And no one should in fact.

At least this is what I think. The Insanity Workout and The Asylum have become a way of life for me. The healthy nutrition as well. Only I don’t think it would have been possible if I were to stress over every gram. As for the workouts, once I complete the program, I do various videos sporadically, and then maybe go for it again, or for one week, or two…

As for the additional meal, if you feel the need for it, I would say yes. The after workout drink can only add so much of protein and other nutrients in order to recover your body.

Today was my first day of month 2. It was ridiculously crazier than I imagined! I felt so worn out and I don’t think I have ever sweated so much! It was great though. I’m very pleased with the results i have gotten so far. My chest loos way better I can feel muscles in my stomach when I touch it. My clothes fit way better too. It is very motivating cuz now I can’t wait to see what the results will be after day 60. I’m not following the meal plan to the t but I still eat right. I’m scared to see what else month 2 has to offer after today though!

I love remembering the first time I discovered this excitement and slight anxiety surrounding month two. You will now see the true face of the program :)
The results too, right when you thought that things will come down to a plateau, it will go twice as fast.
Month two focuses way more on the abs since the Thursday workouts incorporate a lot of low plank power moves that will make your abs really work. Also, there is the Insane abs video which will be your favorite thing once you complete the videos. It is a true magic for abs.

I’d be very grateful to you if you could answer the following question.

I want to start The Insanity Workout again (Got good results first time round) I have read a few comments saying that month 2 is where you see the difference. Is it ok to miss month 1 and jump straight at the deep end, or should I start from month 1?

Hey Sal,
Told you it was addictive :) Nowadays I’m doing Insanity: The asylum (have completed that one too. It is twice as hard as Insanity, only lasts 30 days.) and trying to complete all of the videos three times in a row.
But before this experiment I was sporadically doing Insanity Workout videos, mostly the max ones form month two, and the Insane abs video.

You can of course do month two as the calendar dictates. Just be sure to not enter the videos once again only unprepared. Maybe try some of the cardio recovery and balance videos first and then after two or three days go for the max ones.

Hey guys, I’m currently doing an Asylum/Insanity hybrid (mix of the two workouts) and enjoy it like nothing before. Just a quick favor I like to ask from you- can you share this page on your social profiles like Facebook, Google+ or Twitter. Many people still think that this workout is some kind of a gimmick.

Today I’ve been approached by a friend of mine who bashed this workout and went on and on about how it is a joke. I’ve just showed him my abs and the issue was resolved, but that’s not the point- many people still have doubts about the effectiveness of this program, and they think it is too good to be true. But it really is true, and more.

So share this page so we can stand in defense of this great workout and all the great things it has done for us and our health.

Hi Slavko
Many thanks for this fantastic review; it convinced me to take up the challenge and I am loving it.
I started Insanity 6 days ago; I already feel my clothes are lose and by a great amount. I try to strictly follow the workout but for the diet I do not use the Insanity recipes however I do my best to get the 40% protein, 40% carbs and 20% fat and lots of water throughout the day – well I must be doing most of it right if not all; after 5 days of Insanity workout I can already see I lost inches…

There is one huge problem though – I CANNOT SLEEP.
I feel very hot for hours (up to 8 – 9 hours) after Insanity workout – as if I have a fever – and I feel very energised.
I try to go to bed at 11PM and wakeup at 7am but I end up being awake till 1am.
For the First 3 days I started my workout at 6pm and I was done with the workout and the shower by 7:15pm. I then changed my workout routine to 04:45pm to finish by around 05:45 with the aim to allow about 5 hours between my workout and bed time so that my body can cool down and hopefully allow me to sleep but it still take me 1 -2 hours to sleep and even then I don’t get a quality sleep i.e. I wake up a lot and I don’t get that deep quality sleep – and I see lots of dreams – funny hah..

I cannot commit to doing the exercise in the mornings – I work 08:30 to 4:30pm so 04:45 is the earliest I can do the workout. A quality sleep is more important than the Insanity workout I believe – though I love to carry on with this workout but I am worried about my sleep and its effect on my body and immune system. Can you please tell me if this is normal and if so, would it get better? Any tips to make it better. Any advice will be very much appreciated.

Hi my friend,
I feel very glad for you taking the challenge and loving the results so far. Let me get right to the problem with sleeping. I too had the slight imbalance though, at the time, I thought something else was the reason. Had lots of dreams too. Many of them seeming very realistic if that makes any sense.
I guess that what causes this is the drastic and sudden change in the endocrine system, and moreover the amount of energy being spent throughout the workouts causing myriad of changes inside the body.
My advice is to wait for a while and see how are things going to develop. You say you are on day 6, so I assume your rest day is today or tomorrow as of writing this. It will probably add to the balance and getting used to the intensity, and more important the change that is happening inside your body.

Here is another more pragmatic advice- try to not stress too much over the number of hours you planned for sleep. Go to bed even later rather than earlier. Have a day when you sleep only for 6 hours, intentionally. I assume the next day it will all come right back in place.

Tell me how are things going to develop.

P.S. I’m doing the Insanity: Asylum mixed with the Insanity workout nowadays, and sleep like a baby. Haven’t noticed any troubles since the beginning. I’m even slightly addicted, meaning I cannot sleep well if I don’t get my workout for the day. And mind the fact that the Asylum is even harder. A lot harder, in fact.

Hi Slavko
Thanks for your reply – I will give it another week or so and see if my body will adopt to the situation and my sleep gain normality.
I am 36 years old male – 210lb – 68.4 inch tall.
I wonder if I consume more calories than I should – I am aiming to lose about 15KG of weight. According to the calculation from the Insanity workout diet book my allowance will be 3100 so I am aiming for a 500 to 100 calorie deficit.

As I said in my post before I do not follow the Insanity diet book and try my best to eat well. Below is my daily diet routine and will be grateful if you could comment on it as to whether it is good enough and suggest any improvements. Please also state if I over eat or under eat.

Id does sound like you are slightly over-consuming. What I will personally modify is the number of calories consumed via snacks. Not only that but the source of calories as well.
Try, when it comes to snacks, to make the source of carbs to be almost limited to fruit or vegetables. Ditch the mayo, and maybe even the cheese if you can. Also, avoid bread for snacks.

The protein and carb ratio is well tuned, but it seems to me like you are missing more healthy fats and, in addition, there are more fats than what I would personally go with in general (once again, the mayo and the cheese).

What would be nice to add if you can, is olives, olive oil (for the healthy fats, you need them. They not only help muscle building, but raise testosterone levels as well), curry for a spice (it contains turmeric which is proven to reduce fat tissue. As well as help maintain hormonal balance, which is very much needed with programs like this one), broccoli and cabbage (they contain I3C which is proven to also help reduce fat tissue, as well as keep estrogen levels low in males- this is also needed, since all that testosterone building up, some of it is converted into estrogen). The honey also stops part of this conversion, so keep it as it is. The onion too.

Ass for sleep, try (as bad as this may sound when it comes to dieting habits) to eat prior to going to bed. It doesn’t have to be much, maybe only an apple. Reduce the after dinner snack, and eat something right before going to bed. Being hungry before I go to sleep sometimes causes troubles at least for me. And I reckon that all of you guys doing the Insanity Workout are in one way or another hungry all of the time.

Hope this helps, once again sorry for the late reply, and tell us how are things going.

Thanks Slavko for your sincere advice. I will certainly remove mayo (nutrition information = 1 Tbsp of mayo has 45kcal, fat:4.5g, carb:1g). But the cottage cheese is a great source of protein and very, very low in calories – here is the nutrition information (in 100g of cottage cheese = 78kcal, fat: 0.4g, carb:5g, Proteine:13g) – I therefore eat quite a bit throughout the day – do you still think I should remove it.

As for olive oil and olives – great suggestion – I will add about 15 olives and a table spoon of olive oil during the course of the day – is this too much or too little – please advise.

In relation to carbs – do you mean that a piece of toast in he morning, lunch and dinner will be fine but as long as I stick to fruit and veg for carbs, for my snacks that will be fine?

Sorry I forgot to list cabbage in my previous post – I do mix cabbage into my omelettes.
Many thanks again.
Z4ydi

The cheese in that case seems right. And regarding olives and olive oil, the quantity you mentioned is really about enough.
As for the carbs coming from fruits and veggies, yes, keep them in your snacks, and continue with your main meals as it is.

Hi Slavko,
Hope you are doing well.
Yesterday was my first insanity workout day.
I am a heavy smoker. 172cm and 70 Kg ! I have a normal fit body with an average arms and legs (not big) and an average tummy.

I decided to stop Smoking. And Since yesterday i didn’t smoke any cigaret !
Do you think i can do the insanity workout?
Should i repeat the fit test or keep going as much as i can go?
or its better to switch to P90?

My goal is to have a healthier body, better lifestyle, more muscles and better shape.
Thank you guys !

If bulking up is your primarily concern, and you have 70kg, then I would probably advise you in the direction of P90X (haven’t tried it yet, but still..).
However, if you aim for getting in the best shape, staying extra fit and energetic, try push yourself couple of days more and see how it goes. Do not repeat the test, but go forward with the workouts. And don’t sweat over whether or not you take longer breaks- push pass YOUR limits, that is the trick with Insanity.

If you forget about the cigarettes, I cannot see why not completing the program. It is a life changer man. Keep us posted and feel free to ask everything.

Thank you for your reply !
I pushed my self into insanity and today will be my 5th day :D
Its really hard, my lungs are hurting sometimes and my breathing way is too small, but i am taking good breaks ( around 90 sec instead of 30) and im missing some moves !
But im still feeling fresh and healthy !
I really hope that i will remove my tummy and show my muscles soon !

Hi Slavko
My sleeping is getting much, much better. It is still not perfect but I can see it improving. I suppose it was the shock that my body experienced initially. I also allowed longer hours between sleeping and excercising.

Tomorrow is the end of week 2 for me and it will be measuring day. end of week one I lost 2.5kg in weight, 3 inches off my chest, and man, those shirts and coats that I could not wear are nicely fitting in. my jeans are getting rediculously loose – have to spend on jeans very soon.
Thanks for the support.

Hi Slavko Chad and Nina
I am on day 24 of Insanity. I lost about 3KG the first week and about 1KG week2; but since then I noticed no change on the scale, but most importantly no change in measurement either – I do measure every week but for the past 2 weeks I see absolutely no changes. When it comes to workout I push with the same intensity as that of week1 and week2 if not more since the form is getting better and I can push harder – I swet bucket fulls, I push untill I am out of breath totaly.
I thought I might be undereating so I increased my calories slightly i.e. I was consuming 2000cals and now 2300cals.
My questions are:
Did you guys face this kind of palteau during the first month? if so for how long
Secondly – did you lose more weight in month 2 or month 1?
Thirdly – from experience when do you think the weight loss wil pick up for me again.

hey everybody im the 3rd day in month 2 n have definately seen some results in month 1. im hopin I get way more in month 2 so wish me luck. Month 2 is definately harder n more exhausting but month 1 really did prepare me for it. so those out there who wanna skip month 1, I wouldnt recommend it. lol anyway good luck to everybody out there tryin to get in better shape! dont give up!

thanks for ur concern and reply …. i dont want to lose all the 35 kg in 60 days but i was asking if the program is useful for an obese overweighted guy like me or it is only for just getting fit …thanks again

I started Insanity and completed by first week. Unfortunately little disappointed/demotivated that I did not see any change on scale/fat% OR in mirror even after giving my best in first week. I understand I am not expecting results overnight but expected some start/improvements. Hopefully should see some results once I complete the first month. I followed diet also with 45%/35%/20% for Carbs/Protien/Fat ratio. 5% off but that’s the best I could manage.

Expecting to reduce the body fat % to around 15 % and waist size to 35-36. Is this realistic expectation from this program in 2 months ? Can you please let me know if I am doing anything wrong or missing anything.

Hmm, lot of things to take into the equation here Vinit.
First, it all depends on how much you really invest into the workouts. The more you push the better it gets. If you stay within your comfort zone, then talking about anything else will not really help much.
Second, it is important to note that fats from your diet should be healthy ones. Mayo and bacon are also fats, but if your diet consists, say 20% of that, then again not a lot of progress… I really don’t know about your eating habits and the intensity you add into every workout, so I’m just talking from the top of my head. You should have seen SOME results till now, so if it is not a hustle I will ask you to write more about your eating habits and how hard you push yourself during the videos.

I have just taken my measurements, and i’m really frustrated. I take my measurements every day before the fittest, the last time was 2 weeks ago. And I lost almost nothing after this 2 weeks. I only lost 2 cm from my waist, 1 cm from my chest, en 1 cm from my butt.
The thing is, this were my first 2 week from month 2, ” the month were the real weight lost, and inches melting begins”.

I’m eating good. From the start, I dropped all my sugar, cookies, bad snacks etc, from my diet. I drink like 2,5 liter water a day, an some more during the insanity training. I eat my vegetables and fruit, trying to eat 5 times a day.

And I need to lose a lot of weight and inches. I’m 1,82 meter, and 115 kg. At this weight, i’m like: even if I did not changed a thing in my diet and still eating like crap, I should lose a lot of inches, after 6 weeks, 6 training a week… but I did changed my diet. I did not skip one single training, en I only lost 3 kg in total in the 6 weeks. And almost no inches the last 2 weeks, the first weeks in the fames month 2…

How is this possible? What am I doing wrong, and how do I get the inches lost up. Because at this time, i’m about to throw the towel. Thanks!!

This sounds frustrating really. I don’t have a clear picture of your results, or lack thereof, as you say, so let me ask you some questions. First, since I noticed how you are saying that you measure your progress in inches, tell me this- does you waist look different? Abs showing, less fat tissue in terms of appearance… Since if you’ve accomplished to achieve some muscle growth then it is quite normal not to drop inches (assuming that you did lose some in the first month). IS there still a lot of fat around your abdominal area? Your arms? thighs?

Also, please tell me more if you can about the intensity you train with. I hope I can be of some help, so ask anything, and sorry for the late reply.

I stil really have al lote of fat on my abdominal area. I did lose some inches in my first month. And yes, my waist does look different. But the most change i have seen, was in the first month. In the first month is lost some inches and it went really well. But after that… I do see more musles in my arms.

About the inensity i train. I dont skip a workout. I’m absolutly dripping from sweat, al over the floor, my shirt is soaked. Every single time. And if i do mis a workout, i use my restday to do this workout. The only thing i skip now and than, is the strechday (sometimes i will take a restday on the recovery-day).

Hey Sam,
The intensity you train with sounds about right. Only make sure that there are couple of times during each workout when you cannot continue and must take a break. That’s usually a great indicator that you’ve pushed to your limits.

As for the recovery day, here is my take- see to it that you go over that video once a week. Why? The reason why I would skip any other video than this one is because it’s the only one which targets muscle building more aggressively. Though a stretch oriented workout it is, at its core, a resistance one. Other than that everything sounds alright. I really don’t know why there is plateau in terms of progress.

Oh, can you describe to me how one day looks like diet wise if you don’t mind?

My diet looks like this. I life in Holland, so i dont know if you know al the types of food..

Breakfast:

Non-fat yoghurt, with linseed and pineapple.

Snack 1: a piece of fruit, or a sandwich with ham

Lunch

A brown baguette steak tartare and a sandwich with egg.

Snack 2: A piece of fruit

Diner.
Diner is just diner, can be anything. Pasta, rice, sushi. I try not to take a second plate.

I also drink about 2,5 liter of water a day, and another 0.75 liter when i do insanity.

I hope this information helps

Slavko DesikJune 10th, 2013

It sounds about right. Maybe more protein for dinner, on the expense of carbs. Also, try to make your carb intake consist from fruit and veggies before anything else, since not all carbs are created equal; though it is pretty great as it is now. I would also recommend adding a spoon of honey after each workout as to keep your insulin levels high and thus allow for more muscle growth.

Other than that, try adding these foods (I’ve mentioned them in many comments above)- cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower… and try adding curry to your meals. What these veggies do is open your fat tissue beta receptors, hence making you lose fat faster (this is due to the I3C they contain).. As for curry, it has turmeric, which pretty much does the same thing.

Hope this helps.

SamJune 10th, 2013

Thanks.

What is youre advis. Just keep doing insanity? Of just give up because apparently insanity does not work on me?

Or do you realy believe that if i keep going, insanity is going to work and i will lose all of my fat?

Oh, the good thing is: i really see a big inprovement in my fittests.

Slavko DesikJune 10th, 2013

I really cannot tell for sure. To be honest this is the second time I was surprised by the results. The first was when a friend of mine (quite skinny) wanted to add more muscle and went with the program, but hardly saw any results (though he was drinking a lot of alcohol on nights out. Which were to say, three or four times per week), and now this problem.

The problems usually go with intensity, lack of sleep, alchocol, bad eating habits as well as junk food. You clearly don’t have any of these.
If it was up to me I would have tried improving everything as much as I can in the segments mentioned above, and continue with the program. But you clearly feel that there is not much that can be done. The thing is, it doesn’t suppose to be this complex. For me at least it wasn’t. Nowadays I do mix of Insanity and Insanity: The Asylum, and sometimes go crazy with food. Even in such conditions my body stays the same. When I watch an eye on food it changes literally over the period of 5-6 days.

The decision is really up to you. You can continue and see how things turn out for a while longer, I don’t know. Besides, do you feel improvement in other areas of your life due to the workouts- more energy, better mood, feeling more energized. I know I cannot skip a day now. Me and my girlfriend are crazy about Insanity.

Take care man and tell us what you did and if something changed.

SamJune 10th, 2013

Thank you. I think i will go on for another couple of week, just to make sure.

I have one last question, because my body seems to give me results the first month.

Is it possible that my body responds beter on the first month exersice than the second month. So is it a plan, to return to the first month trainings?

Slavko DesikJune 11th, 2013

Hmm, well I cannot tell for sure, but there is a chance that your body reacts better to shorter workouts. It is strange, but not unheard of.
See how things are going to develop and then maybe do the switch.

SarahJune 6th, 2013

Hi,

Thanks for a great review, it was very helpful, I’m currently on day 5 in week 1 of the second month, and boy has it got very hard. The first day of the this month I was actually nearly crying by the end, it’s intense, although I don’t see much of a difference in my body’s appearance I’m most certainly fitter. I’ve a back problem and found that it has help strengthen my back quiet a bit.

However I am feeling a little dishearten that my body hasn’t changed so much, people have said there is a difference but I don’t see it. I had a son a year and a half ago and i too am trying to loose my belly, I’m not following the diet plan but I don’t eat that bad to begin with. I would just like to know, does your body change more in the second month.

Also I do tend to talk about it alot, it is like a club, and I have friends who have said my passion for Insanity has made them want to exercise, not do insanity but just do something. Some have said they are going to do Insanity too. I really love it painful and all as it gets ha ha.

Like a club indeed. My girlfriend and I are obsessed with Insanity. Not a day can pass without doing a workout. Some month ago we started doing them outside on the open, and it’s lot of fun.
As for the progress with your results- when I did the workout for the first time my results hardly hit a plateau. Namely, they were constant throughout the entire program, more notable in the second month for sure. If your friends can tell a difference there probably is, but I’m interested when you say that you cannot seem to notice any of it. No muscle definition? No abs showing, sculpted shoulders or anything? How do you fit into jeans and some tighter clothes? Any difference there?

Oh, and tell me more about the intensity you train with. Namely, I was a fitness coach for couple of months, and was really surprised when one guy, not that really much into shape, said that he can go over a whole video of Insanity without taking a break (Shaun T himself cannot do this). Long story short, he was cheating himself by doing almost every move with half the range of motion, half the dynamics, not paying attention on form. We are all different in the way we push ourselves- some have had some experience with sports or other types of training, so it is easy for them to go over that mental barrier during workouts. Others though have never experienced how it is like to dig deep, so if there is no one there to objectively guide them, they might convince themselves that it is all good when the truth remains that it is not. This comment is addressed more towards every reader here, since during the time I was coaching I really came across many people who perfectly fit this description.

Ask me anything about the program and your concerns, and I hope I can be of more help. Take care

I do insanity with my brother in law, we push each other to keep going and spot when one of us is doing something wrong, I feel I push myself a lot, sweat falls off me and my clothes are always soaking wet when I finish, I’m red face and my body shakes most of the time in the cool down stretch.

I should have been more specific about what I don’t see sorry, I have definitely got more muscle definition in my legs and my shoulders def seem slimmer, it’s probably cause I’ve never done so many push ups in my life and didn’t even realise there are so many types ha ha. My clothes are starting to fit better and I’m way way fitter then I was, my problem is I don’t see a difference in my stomach, which is what I wanted to change from the start. I’m hoping the next two and a half weeks will improve it cause il be finished then.

Also I’m haven pain injections on my back in the last week(day2) do you think I should finish the week even if I have to take a few days to recover after the injections. I’m setting myself to hopefully only miss two days but it all depends on how it goes.

Like many others, I’ve chanced upon the website and am loving the review u gave as well as the comments given by many others!! thanks for that! :) I’m in day 9 of month 1!

There are so many things I would like to share w others as well:

1) I was shocked that results can seriously be seen as soon as week1day7. Comparing myself from day 1 and day 7 was simply wow! Effects are REALLY visible.

2) I jumped in straight to insanity after completing the 30 day shred programme by Jillian Michaels. It is entirely possible and although I can’t fully follow Shaun T as yet, the form and determination to complete is so much more important!!

3) I’m getting addicted to doing insanity and I no longer feel like its a chore anymore. I am influencing ppl around me to start doing it.i would say its becoming part of my life!!

anyway Slavko, I have a few questions for you after reading through all the comments and realised that it was not asked before, or that I could have missed it out. Here goes:

1) does it matter which time of the day I do the workout? I have read and watched some documents which advise not working out in the morning between 5-6am as our blood pressure is low hence not advisable. However, I do hear about athletes doing exercises as early as 4am. I understand that the sleeping hours also matter so any advise would be great.

2) I’m not taking in as much food as I simply down too much water!! Would finish about 300ml of water during the workout, another 400ml of meal replacement protein formula by optimum nutrition, and then another 300 ml to quench my thirst. Would this affect my results in anyway??

Thanks and I hope for all the best for all insanity fanatics!!! DIG DEEEEEEEPER!

Cannot tell you how glad I am about your results, as well as the fact that it is now a lifestyle as opposed to some program you do as to get this or that. It changes and transforms. Both you as well as others around you. That’s what this workout does :))

As for your questions I would recommend going with how you feel. Some people are better off doing some type of physical activity in the morning while others cannot seem to move with a finger. My advice is to try. If you feel rested, went early to bed and feel energized, then why not. I, myself, did the program in the afternoons, around 5-6 PM. There were days I did workouts in the mornings too, but I find to be better off when I can squeeze my workout during the day.

As for the water, don’t worry. The only thing I would advise is to try and disperse your water intake throughout the entire day. Why is this so? First, you keep your body constantly hydrated; and second, your body cannot process too much water all at once, so all the benefits it would have provided otherwise will be gone.
I know that the thirst is like the biggest after a workout, but try to drink some sips before the workout, during it, and some more after you finish. Then give yourself some half an hour and try small quantity again.

Just wanted to drop by and say hello and a quick update…i have now finished week one of the first month of my second round of Insanity,,,i did receive my ..” I EARNED IT” Insanity T shirt and was pretty happy about that…after a 3 week break i was glad to be back to the insanity way of life again,,

One question for ya…..Do you happen to know when the T25 is going to be out??Released?

hey chad! yea im still here. im on month 2 week 3 so about 2 weeks left n im done with my first round of insanity! I have seen some pretty good results but not exactly where I wanna be yet, so when im done im gonna take a week break n start round 2. how were ur results?? glad to here u got ur shirt! did it take long for u to receive it in the mail? oh n on ur 3 week break did u start gaining weight at all? I kno some ppl said they still kept losin weight so I was jus curious..?

Wow glad to hear that Chad! “back to the insanity way of life again”- it is a lifestyle on its own now isn’t it? Kudos for the shirt too. About the T25, I’m not really sure, but somewhere around July. It is nice that you think in the vertical of diversity. Namely, I completed Insanity once, tried it another time, completed it, then did some videos here and there. After that I did the Asylum Vol.1 (addicted to it), and now I plan on purchasing P90X or p90x2… maybe The Ten minute trainer also… The Asylum review is here, though I would love to try these other ones and let you guys know about them too. http://www.lifestyleupdated.com/the-insanity-asylum-review/

hey slavko tomorrows my last day! im not done yet tho. im gonna start round 2 on monday except this time im gonna focus alot more on my diet cuz I kinda slacked towards the end in the second month. Im gonna make sure I dnt do that in round 2. im sure ill see even more results so im pretty excited. do u think ill hit a plateau tho? or will I still get great results?

Allow yourself three or four days of recovery exercises, something in the line of jogging, cycling, maybe even just some stretching. Then a day of rest and hit the Insanity again (or if you want to start Monday, maybe try to squeeze some of the recovery week exercises this next week, so you can somehow connect seven days together) I forgot asking you about protein intake or supplementation of any kind. Doing the program two times in a row will most likely require more protein as to fuel your muscle as well as make muscle recovery and growth.

Oh, and why not trying the Asylum now? You can diversify by making a one month break from Insanity, and then maybe hit it again after completing Asylum (it will be much easier then, believe me). \

I would love to try the asylum but unfortunately I dnt have the money for it right now. but I will do like a week of recovery exercises then start my second round of insanity. I dont take any supplements n eat atleast 40 grams of protein. idk for sure cuz I wasnt really keeping track, I was just watching wat I eat. Im gonna keep track of wat I eat this time tho so I can get the max results.

Slavko DesikJuly 7th, 2013

If your focus is more on weight loss and muscle definition as opposed to more of a muscle gain, then Insanity is even a better option. Good luck with the second round, it is becoming a lifestyle now isn’t it? :)

DivJune 27th, 2013

Hey Slavko,
I was wondering if the fact that I’m not that physically strong and my stamina isn’t that great either will make it impossible for me to start and complete insanity?
I quit smoking a while ago but my lungs are still recovering.

If you haven’t been exercising or working out, I would suggest for you not to start off with the insanity program. Perhaps, you can try out the Day 1 Fit Test to determine whether you are good to start.

If you’re able to pull through the Fit Test without feeling too much fatigue, then you’re good to go!

If you find yourself taking a lot of effort to go through the Fit Test, then I suggest you condition yourself with other exercise programs first.

Anyway, welcome on board the insanity workout !! If need be, I would be more than glad to share some of my feelings about theprog. :)

I just completed month one and is doing the recovery week now.the change that has happened to me since day 1 is really amazing.

Right Trevor, though I had problems completing the fit test the first time I started. Back then I had knee problems, and after a month or so of not exercising at all started doing Insanity. Did barely finished the test standing. But after just three weeks I was in amazing shape. Since then I went coaching, doing videos from Insanity plus mountain biking in the same day. Nowadays I’m doing two Asylum videos per day :) So my advice is to start one week with some mild and moderate exercise and then jump right into the Insanity program.

The thing is that you only have to push pass YOUR limits, nothing more.

Hi Slavko,
I just happened to stumble on this review and I am very impressed. I am getting ready to start Insanity on Monday. I am 47 years old and have had a few knee issues in the past. I am determined to dig deep and succeed. I just received my Insanity DVD’s and saw there was an extra workout that was sort of a pre-Insanity workout that should be done for about a week prior to taking the fit test. I really appreciate the advice that you have been giving everyone.
Many people have told me that at my age I should do something “tamer”. Not only am I doing this for me but I want to let them know that age is nothing but a number,and we all should try to take good care of ourselves. Besides that I really want to show off in my Insanity t shirt when I earn it. I will keep you posted. thanks

You made my day! I’m all about showing to other people that it CAN be done. Not only that you change yourself, but you motivate others in the process as well.
And age never matter. Tony Horton, the creator of P90X and a great role model for me, is 56 years old and he is always upping the ante,
When asked what he will be doing at age 80, he answered- “same… same… Better, more, harder, crazier… Jump higher cliffs, longer hand stance…” He is younger than any 20 year old that I’ve ever met. So yes, age is just a number.

At 42 years old, I have finally become serious about loving and honoring myself enough to get physically fit. The greatest gifts I have received in life are my daughter and my newfound commitment to insanity! As a former ‘couch potato’ who would only occasionally walk and feel gradual results from even that small, daily activity – I honestly feel that Insanity has the capacity to change my life. Please be warned that I am not the typical Insanity candidate – I am (or used to be :), an inactive, overweight and middle-aged woman who has never been physically fit within my adult life.

On Monday morning at 5:30 am, I will enter week three of my modified Insanity experience. This includes working out with a small group of early morning warriors who consented to a gradual introduction to the full 60 day Insanity experience. Under the expert guidance and loving encouragement of a professional trainer, I have thus been enabled to complete a less intense, yet still beneficial 30 minute pre-cursor to the full 60 day Insanity experience. In a nutshell, just last month I was an out-of-shape, fatigued, and an alarmingly close to being diagnosed/borderline diabetic. However just two weeks into this modified intro to this program my overall health, general well-being, energy and body consciousness has exponentially improved. I am increasingly more energetic and happy. My strength and apparent flexibility have increased. My days are more fulfilled, steps a bit more effortless and smile a bit brighter after 2 short weeks of even a modified Insanity experience.

This evening after discovering this wonderfully refreshing an honest review, I wanted to take a moment to encourage even the most unhealthy of others out here to love yourselves enough to give yourselves this gift. My Insanity experience is likely to take much longer than the prescribed 60 days and it is so early in my newfound discovery of this program that I have not even taken a before picture or begun the full-fledged program as yet. Yet and still, I am in this thing for the long haul. Honestly, the only drawback I have experienced thus far is an inability to get a full night’s sleep because of all this newfound energy, but even that issue has been addressed in this forum and I’m certain my body will soon become accustomed to all the new changes.

What I can already attest to is how wonderful I honestly feel with each increasing day of commitment. I am convinced that this workout is for everyone as it can be modified as needed to build your endurance and capacity for ultimate success. Earlier in your comments, I noticed your warning to the obese, unfit and/or faint of heart (for lack of a more appropriate term). However as one who embodies the aforementioned and needed to do something to avoid sudden disaster or even premature death; I would counter that this program and its component benefits, are for EVERYONE who is willing to commit to lifelong health ‘by any means necessary’ even if on a modified basis, as an initial starting point.

The benefits of a full-body cardio workout on a daily basis could never be overstated and are indeed an increasing labor of love and addiction. My gift to those whom I love was to invite them to join me in this journey and I extend that same invitation to everyone reading these comments, as well. Thank you Shaun T., Slavko and Coach Ron (my new personal trainer) for all of the positive energy, insight and honesty you bring via this initiative. I am an Insanity convert for life and welcome the opportunity to share my anticipated story of success with others!

You made my day Nefertari! You made my day!
I’m so glad that you transformed your lifestyle and became part of the Insanity community. And to see how much satisfaction and enjoyment this new lifestyle is bringing to you, as well as how you try to inspire and motivate others, it really leaves me without words.

Insanity and Shaun T inspire us, change our lives, so we can inspire other people and do the same thing! It is a movement now, and I’m glad that more and more people are embracing it.

I live in Australia and the Insanity program has just arrived here (in the form of late night ads). I am interested in doing something more about my fitness but I am now 63 years old and wondering if Insanity is a bit too much. I do work out at the gym for about 3 hours a week, cycle at least 2 hours a week over the hills near our home, and do a lot of yoga. But I also have a few joints that are not quite what they once were. And max heart rate for my age is about 160 and I can certainly feel it when I get close to that.

First question: has anyone over 60 ever tried this program (and survived, of course)? I was also very interested to read Nefertari’s comment about a 30 minute pre-cursor program.; this might be just the thing for me. Are there any details about this anywhere, and is it available formally on a set of CD’s? If not, is the Focus T25 or something like that more suitable?

Hey friends…been a long few weeks…Slavko i read your review on the Asylum…well you guessed it brother,, I ordered it and have recieved it and now starting tomorrow July 1st will be living the ASYLUM way of life,,,im really excited to start it….i really didnt think it was , well what i was looking for..but than i read YOUR review and like before…….well i was hooked,,,,i will keep ya posted…thanks for the response to my last question also..
HEY you …NINA,,,,,glad to see you got er done….congrats lady….the shirt for insanity took less than a week after i got the pics sent in,,,im now on the quest for the ASYLUM shirt….huh,,,me n t-shirts,,,,,i do just about anything for a t-shirt..silly huh,,,, 216 down to 178 i made it below the 180 mark,,,i am currently holding very very steady at 185 i cant seem to gain weight now and i eat more than normal i did restart the insanity workouts too,,,as ,mentioned above i start the asylum tomorrow,,,wish me luck,…lol ,im sure my metabolism was off the charts burning and burning,,,email me sometime snaredog77@gmail.com
Great times with Great Friends
Chad

hey trevor dont worry it will get easier! I was the same way in month 1, but once week 2 came I was so much better n didnt have to take that many breaks. same happened in month 2. by the second week I was so much stronger n when I had to stop for a break it would just be for a second to catch my breath. so hang in there n do ur best, you’ll get faster n stronger in no time!

Way to go Trevor!
Nina is right, it will get a lot easier as time goes by. The first time I did the fit test and one of the videos from month two I thought it was some kind of a joke, like “Who on Earth can do this?”. After a while I improved a lot. Best thing of all is that you never notice your improvement. It is so gradual, so nicely paced, that one day you will be able to go through a whole video without taking a break.

As Shaun T says, you just need to remember one thing- You can do this!

I have a burning question!! Am I supposed to feel as tired for max cardio conditioning workout??

I didn’t feel as tired and sweat as much as compard to max interval circuit and max plyo workout..not sure if I wasn’t putting in enough effort or just that the nature of the endurance workout will not make me sweat out as much.arghs…

The max videos are usually equal in terms of how hard they are, though they differ in respect of many exercises. It is quite possible that some of those exercises target muscles you never paid that much attention to, as opposed to others that target muscles you already strengthened.

So I’m thinking of doing Insanity and I read other comments and reviews saying people saw results in a month, at the end of the program or within the first few weeks; so I’m wondering how long until people see the big weight loss; like you dropped a dress size weight loss in the program? How long until I see the big changes; as in a flatter stomach, thinner thighs ect.
Thanks

Hey Julia,
It really all depends, but it happens rather gradually. Sure, the first week will surprise you a lot with how much your body will change (tighter legs, arms, chest, abs…), but the progress is really on daily basis. It will become very noticeable probably around the end of month one. After that it only gets much better.

Just wanted to say thanks for your really useful review. I am in the first week of insanity. I am one of those people who appear fit because I am naturally small, but to be honest I really haven’t been doing much exercise and the fitness test showed me how out of shape I am!

It is really tough but am feeling super inspired and excited by it all. My husband and I have both started doing Insanity, which is helping to keep me motivated and it has been great for the relationship to work to a goal together.

Hi Sam,
I haven’t tried T25 yet, but from discussing it a lot with friends and following Shaun T and Beachbody for a while, it is distinctly different from Insanity.

For one, the workouts are way shorter, making it impossible to burn the same amount of calories. That is, given the fact that they are similar in nature.

It can serve as a supplement to the Insanity workout on days when you feel overwhelmed, or want to tone it down a notch.
It still keeps the dynamics up, and keeps your body in the similar workout pattern.

Hi Slavo,
Thank you for the great review, I am going to try this based on your review it really gave me a lot of infomation especially with regards to the eating plan and what to eat.

I wanted to find out something once you are done with the 60 days of insanity what then? Do you stop? Do you continue with month 2? Or do start all over again? After working so hard to get into the shape of your life I would really be upset if I lost all that how do you maintain your insanity body basically.

When I did Insanity for the first time I had the same concern. Two things were apparent even from the start. One- if you stop with exercise completely, or do something that lacks the cardio aspect, you will gain back pounds. Not all of it, sure, but still. As you say, once you get the perfect body you cannot be satisfied with going even an inch back.

The other thing that was also clear to me from the start was that I cannot do Insanity forever. You see, the workout is designed so that it gives you the Maximum results in two months. Doing so it wears your body down to a certain degree, an it wouldn’t be wise to continue with Insanity as your daily routine. Sure, a workout here and there is even advised, but you need something more permanent.

Here is how I solved this after a longer period of trying to figure it out. I did the Insanity workouts for a while, say three or four times per week. And going back to old eating habits I kinda started putting some pounds. Nothing noticeable though.

Then I started coaching and did Insanity three times per week, while the other three times I did exercises from Insanity with the group I coached. Perfect shape again.

Then After a while I did the whole program again (addiction I guess), and stopped coaching the group. Three days of rest, and I bought the Insanity: Asylum program. It is harder, but with less of a cardio when compared to Insanity it kinda lets your body recuperate more easily. This allows for longer periods of working out with the same routine.

Now I do Asylum almost every day, and sometimes mix in Insanity here and there when I want to shred some serious fat tissue with cardio. You will be surprised how quickly your body gets used to all the stress from the workouts and after a while it becomes stimulus not stress. Stimulus that your body needs and craves. It is an addiction, I tell you that. IT is also interesting how after doing Insanity once, you can get back into shape in less than three weeks even if you make an off road turn back to overweight.

Hi Jonathan,
It all depends on what you want to achieve. Insanity is great for weight loss and improving aspects like cardio endurance, flexibility, balance, muscle endurance too. But it is my opinion that you will be better suited with the Insanity: Asylum. More explosiveness derived from far more complex moves, increased range of motion, more strength overall.
Here is the link to the review:http://www.lifestyleupdated.com/the-insanity-asylum-review/

Thanks for this fantastic review and thanks for all the other comments it really helped me through my first week of insanity when I had a job to walk up the stairs.
Week 4 Day 1 today feeling great I’ve lost 11 lbs waist has gone from 34″ to 32″ body has changed shape getting much stronger now and able to keep up with the daily punishment better now although still in a pool of sweat ! Missing it on Sundays is that normal ?
I’ve a question about month 2 I’m a farmer and we are in a very busy time at the moment 14/16 hrs a day I don’t feel tired or worn out at all but worried about month 2 being to much at the mow ? Should I do month 1 again? Or try month 2 ? Our busy time will be over in about 4 weeks.
Getting 8 hrs sleep and eating all the right stuff etc etc doing workout at 5.15 am before work farmer up early !!
What do you guys think ?

Hi John,
I started with Insanity one year ago, and since then I’ve been upping the ante and doing crazy amount of exercise daily. Reading your comment above I still slightly envy your energy levels :) Farming is not a joke and being able to do the workouts in the morning before getting to work is awesome. I guess it is a great example of how Insanity influences energy levels. I for one always thought that they work on a rather demand-supply similar kind of way.

There are two viable options here to look at. One would be to continue with month one, assuming of course that you are not in a rush. My advice would be exactly that- don’t rush and don’t put your body under stress. The workout and indeed its schedule are meant to be modified. After all not all circumstances are created equal. And this comes from someone who did Insanity for a long time, and went to complete the Asylum and Asylum Vol.2

The other option is to see how your body reacts on recovery week, and try going with month two workouts. The change in routine would be great at a number of levels, but then again it may contribute to a great discrepancy between how much effort you are putting in, and what results you see (if you are worn down muscle tissue is not being left to recover, and it really compromises your results).

Continuing with month one would be probably better, since you will both condition your body to adapt to the stress like it is a normal thing and you will add a month to the program, waiting for month two exercises. It is way smarter to stretch the length of the program this way as opposed to doing it all over.

Oh, and as far as the slight addiction goes- I too find it hard to rest on Sundays. I can remember a period couple of months back when I did 23 days of Insanity:Asylum in a row. Spoiler alert- the addiction grows strong very quickly :)

Thanks for your review, great information.
Just startiing week 2 today, it’s been hard, but I feel that I must go on. This is actually the second time I start this workout, I did month 1 about a year ago and stopped, for several reasons, mostly being unable to fit it in my busy schedule (full time job, married, 2 children), but this time I’m decided to go thru day 60, and this page is a big motivation.
I had the same question as Isabel about what to do after Insanity to keep in shape, so your suggestion is of great help, I am also thinking of riding a bike, and play sports on weekends.
Anyway, I’ll keep visiting the site, for motivation and updates.

Hi Charlie,
It is great to combine sports and especially biking into the schedule. I’ve followed Shaun T for some while and his advice is to also find some form of light exercise and add it to rest days. And the exercises will get easier don’t worry. As I wrote above, energy probably works on a demand-supply method.

Hi!I’m Andreea and I’m 22 years old.I just started my second week of insanity,but i had experienced some problems with the push ups.When I first did them,I had no problem doing 10 push-ups,but at the last two insanity workouts when I tried to do them I felt like someone was stabbing in my left abdominal muscle and i just fell flat on the floor in extreme pain.After i sat about 3 minutes I tried to do the pus-ups again,but same pain,and i skipped them and continued with the rest of the program.My question is,can i do something to ameliorate the pain so i could do my push-ups,or,if not,can I skip them ?

Hi Andreea,
I had a similar problem when I did Insanity for the second time. For me it was pain in the abdominal section, somewhere above the obliques. It was however constant throughout the whole workout and slightly sharper during core targeting exercises. I guess it is due to over stressing the muscles, since both my as well as your problem occurs during the start of the program (the muscles are being suddenly over-stressed).

Tell me if it have stopped on its own by now, or at least went down a notch. If not, try two or three days where you will do only stretching as opposed to complete rest as to be able to keep the range of motion while resting the muscles.
I hope this helps

Hey,thanks for your answer,I was getting a bit worried that there was something wrong with my body or something!
The pain went down so I could do some push ups,but I’ve been carefull not to hurt myself again.When I felt that the pain is a bit worse i just stopped.
Unfortunately I have to leave for a month in a trip,and I don’t have any room or conditions there to do my insanity workout,but as soon as I’ll come back I’ll start it all over again because the results are great!I’ve seen my body improving after just one week and I was feeling alot better.I hope this time I won’t have problems with my muscles :))
Cheers!

heyy I started my second round of insanity today. i took a longer break than I wanted but finally decided to get back into it. I couldn’t believe how hard it was. Probably cuz of the big gap. Its gonna be hard but I know I’ll get back into it after two weeks. that’s the best part of it being the second round, I kinda know what to expect n I know I’ll get better. so good luck to everybody out there tryin to get healthy and in better shape!

You will be amazed how quickly you can go back into shape. That is one of the things I love about Insanity- once you complete it your endurance goes up and stays there for good. As Shaun T says it is all a mental game :)

i have been doing insanity for 2 weeks now, and I’ve been wondering if i should integrate the “upper body weight training” with the rest of the workout. if so when is it best to do it? during the days where i get my rest? when?

Hi Stefano,
The upper body weight training is great for guys, and especially those who want to bulk up some. I would advise you to keep rest days as they are intended- your muscles must recover after all that beating. Recovery days too. And this is mainly because “upper body weight training” has a lot of cardio integrated between the weight exercises, and you need one day where cardio is somewhat absent.
My advise is to take one workout per week (every week a different one) and change it with “upper body weight training”. Leave pure cardio, whenever it occurs in the schedule, as it is.

I’ve just seen the Insanity workout commercials and I am amused with what I have seen.

Some years ago I used to do a lot of exercise, mountaineering mostly, in many of its styles, from cross country ski to hiking and climbing, even I climbed the Mount Aconcagua went I was 27. Now I’m 43 and I’ve been some years with no much practice, I’ve put on some weight and I’m not so fit as I used to be (anyway, I’ve never had any definition on my body…).

I’m am thinking of taking the challenge but I have some concerns about it. I don’t know if after some years of inactivity I am prepared for that insane effort. I guess that maybe before I begin with it I should go jogging for some days and improve may breathing. Of course I can do push ups and crunches but anyway I loose my breath quickly now…

On the other hand, I’ve noticed on the videos that some of the people that appears there have needed 24, 36 or even 42 weeks to get the results shown there. Does it mean that they had to go through the Insanity workout for those weeks? Is that 3, 4 or 5 times the program? In those cases, is it necessary to have some rest between on time and the next?

Hey Xavier,
Insanity will definitely give you the definition you are after. It will put you in the best shape you’ve ever been too- and as I’ve been told by people who are older than me and completed the program, this is an amazing feeling.
Now, as far as the period of inactivity goes, I did my first round after one month of total rest due to knee injury, so don’t worry.
Anyway, it is better to have one week aside for preparation, mainly some resistance exercises like push-ups and sit-ups (the core takes the most punishment during the first week or two of Insanity) and some light jogging as to prepare the ankles. You can try some jumping too; jump rope, jumping in place for about 30 seconds, some power vertical jumps too.
Oh, and do some squads since your thighs will burn after the first couple of workouts.

This is all it takes to prepare for the challenge. Leave the rest to the program.

As far as repeating the program goes it depends. If you have 100 ibs. to shed then in all honesty doing the program once would not suffice. Doing it continuously for more months is probably not that wise too, since it implies long period of crazy amount of exercises after years of sedentary life, or at least one without exercising. In that case, resting (not in the traditional sense of the word, but rather combining some days of running with some biking, swimming or playing sports, as well as throwing in some of the recovery week videos) between doing the program more times is probably the best option.
Two weeks or so would be probably enough after couple of days of total rest.

My advise is to start preparing for one week and take the challenge. It is a life changer.

You will know the very moment you are unable to do even one more repetition of the exercise. This of course will progress as time goes by, so your threshold will expand substantially. My advice, about pushing to YOUR limits, would be to assign small numbers of repetitions you must do every time you feel tired and worn out.

For instance, if you are doing push-ups and start to feel like you can do only couple more, don’t just continue with doing them assuming that you will somehow get the maximum out of you. For that it requires a huge amount of mental practice, and since we are not professional athletes we usually tend to quit during those last reps.

But, if you assign a number, and tell yourself “this is what I’m about to do”, few things change. One, you start counting from zero which always gives you a mental boost to continue; two, you assign a smaller number say 2 or 3, and as you accomplish your goal you feel confident in your ability so you do some more.

Hi Xavier
Just to let you know I’ve shed 15lb in four weeks of the insanity program of course eating correctly as well
Recovery week for me now can’t wait for month two to start
Hope this helps you
John

If finally I decide to try Insanity (I’m sure I will try ) I will post my comments

Best wishes
Xavi

XinaAugust 10th, 2013

Hi Slavko,

May as well get straight to the point! I’m turning 21 tomorrow, weigh about 125lbs on a normal basis at 5’4″, and have a very shaky fitness level. I won’t lie – I have spent my whole life up until recently doing literally zero fitness related activity aside from the amount of walking around you’d expect from an average student. Never played any sport, never did any recreational hiking or walking or swimming or anything; I had severe asthma when I was very young that even prohibited me from even playing tag with other kids, and by the time I grew out of it (thank goodness), my fitness level was so poor compared to everyone else that the idea of trying to get started on it seemed like way more trouble than it was worth – not to mention embarrassing, depressing, and unpleasant! That said, I’ve always maintained a healthy diet and luckily just don’t feel the pull towards junk foods – I like my fruits and veggies, I love raw food, I eat fish above other forms of meat, and for some reason crisps and chocolate have never been appealing. Still – while it means that I’m not overweight (BMI by standard calculation usually hovers between 20-22% which while not overweight is probably also deceptive as I have so incredibly little muscle mass), I am certainly not fit, and again I stress that I never have been.

But in the last two years, I’ve experienced sever lower back pain and hip displacement. I found out that I’m superhypermobile (flexibility 6 out of 9) and that my lack of core strength have essentially let my incredibly flexible joints down, and I experienced mobility restriction symptoms that the doctors said they usually see in pensioner age patients. So I started on Pilates about six months ago, grudgingly – and then made infrequent trips to the gym for cardio, did a lot more walking. In May, I was going to the gym twice a week and fumbling my way round the elliptical and weight machines trying to squeeze between all the super-hench uni athletes – I stopped mid June.

Now I’m doing a basic fitness training programme and have done four out of ten sessions of crash-course style training – I’m not really seeing results (I’ve actually gained a big pile of weight haha, let’s hope it’s muscle…) but I wouldn’t really expect to given my base level of fitness being zero. Hopefully by the end of the ten sessions I will have some kind of groundwork, but I guess you can never be sure.

I am hungry for results – I hate taking things slow! – and I think I am finally at a point in my life where I want to take getting fit seriously. Like I mentioned, I am turning 21 tomorrow – and I wanted to gift myself this year with fitness and a body I can be prouder of. With those mobility injury experiences in the last two years, it has dawned on me that longevity is really tied to fitness, and to put it simply – I love life too much to continue to ignore health! That said, I am impatient and insecure – and again, very unfit.

Having just given the life story, I wanted to ask your very honest opinion – do you think the insanity workout is for me? The promise of visible and quick results is what grabs me because again I feel like the only way to kickstart me into being fit is to give me a way to do it where I actually feel like my effort is being rewarded. It would be amazing to see results! Going slow by trying to go to the gym three times a week, lose five pounds a month, etc etc – that all seems like it’s not even worth the effort in some ways, to the pessimistic me – so again, the insanity workout sounds like it might do it for me. The promise of efficiency – big results in a short time of working really frickin hard – is a big motivator, and I don’t think I’d struggle with mental motivation.

But, that said, I really do feel that my body poses incredibly strict limitations on what I can realistically do. My existing muscle is the minimal amount a human needs to be able to walk around – my current workout plan is 2-3 times a week of 60 minute intense calisthenics supervised, and god if I don’t look pathetic in the gym, quivering and sweating after two knee-position push ups. My hip and back are doing better these days but are by no means perfect, and I can hear my left leg rattling about in my hip socket during my current workouts sometimes, ha. Even if I’m determined to do the workout, if my body really can’t keep up, or if I hurt myself, it’s not going to work, is it.

I was so glad to read it when you said I had to be able to do basic level exercise first in the review – because it is a legitimate concern for me, and really something that I think I need to seriously consider for the sake of my health. So honestly honestly honestly – do you think this workout is for me? Or should I try something easier at least in the time being?

Thank you so much for your advice! Sorry to dump my whole story in you, I just thought that context was pretty important here… Hope you don’t mind!

First thing first, judging according to past experiences. When I started with Insanity I was confident in myself due to past reassurances from playing sports and being the athletic kid overall. My brother on the other hand, who was the first person I convinced to try this program, never did anything remotely connected with sports. Long story short, he is now amazed by the things his body can do.

Your body will adapt to whatever it is you bring to the table. It works on a demand-supply method.

Why I see the Insanity program so fit for you is basically due to couple of reasons. One- it will allow you to train in privacy, which by the look of your comment you appreciate a lot. And believe me, training in privacy is better, especially when you are progressing one step at a time. It also allows you to up your game (no wonder athletes train in private).

You mentioned another thing which instantly grabbed my attention- results. You see, Insanity gives tangible results and that alone keeps you motivated throughout the program. Knowing that your effort counts, it gives you the confidence that you are on the right track.

Now back to physical limitations.. Not having enough muscle mass doesn’t concern me at all. Muscle, more than anything else in the body, adapts to stress and demand. What concerns me are joints, ankles, hips. You say you have some problems with your hip and I cannot tell how minor or severe they are. But then again the fact that you go to the gym and do some amount of exercise without noticing any problems reassures me a lot.

You can try with push-ups, sit-ups, running and jumping on a rope or in place for a week and see how things go. Jumping especially. If everything is OK and there is no problem, then I think you have a green light to go for the program.
Is Insanity harder than what you can imagine right now? Of course it is. You never experienced anything like it. But then again none of us did before we tried the challenge. Don’t worry about that. You will push past YOUR limits, and that’s all that it takes. The program is designed to work for someone who is overweight with very little muscle mass, as well as for Shaun T who is around 180 pounds all muscle. The very nature of the exercises is aimed towards using YOUR body as the ideal resistance for your efforts.

I hope this sheds some light on your concerns. If there is anything else feel free to ask.

Thanks for taking the time to provide such an in-depth analysis of the Insanity workout.
I’m on day #12 today – and I’m starting to talk back to Shaun T. as he does motivate me and I’m not going to let him beat me at this.

I’m 45 (tomorrow) – and prior to this workout (if you can call it that – it’s total insanity) – I was used to doing 5-6 days of an hour of cardio a week. Mostly just stair-master or elliptical. Nothing from the waist above. I did used to have a decent weight lifting workout going on but that was years ago.

I can testify that during the push-up / squat exercises that I’m not up to pace – not even close. I’m managing the first one or two sets, but then doing “girl” push-up’s after that (no offense, please, meant to the women out there). I’m just trying to push through and keep good form and keep up. It is NOT easy. But, as Shaun T. says – DIG DEEP! You got it in your body and your mind and you just have to stay with it.

As I read your review you are right – after a week I KNOW I have improvement – I’ve lost 10 pounds at least, and definitely have much improved upper body strength.

I will say that Pure Cardio and then doing Cardio Abs this week was a real challenge. Should these exercises be broken up into two different times of the day – or are they supposed to be done sequentially?

First kudos for the results! And as far as combining the workouts goes, I did them separately the first time. You can even give it a 10 minute break, though I would advise you more for two separate times daily. When you progress further you can do them sequentially.

Hey John, you will be surprised about how fast your fitness level is about to progress. Give it a week or two, and try going out with some friends for a workout session. They will see you as a fitness machine :)

I love the idea of insanity and it looks hard but seriously rewarding! I really want to have a go, but ive noticed that its mainly people who are already quite fit and thin that are using it. I am 21 years old, 100kgs and 176cms tall. i have recently started a fitness and healthy eating regime and lost 12kgs. My job is quite active as i run replenishment of a retail store. do you think that this would be healthy for me to do this program or should i lose more weight first?

Hi Jamii,
I’ve seen people with more weight who did Insanity. The best thing is that your own body supplies the resistance, and you can pace yourself according to your current level of fitness. You can lose couple of more pounds first, and that would be great, but there is no ideal starting point for Insanity. No mater where you start, the results are about to come fast.
My advice is go for it.

Hi Joe,
When it comes to gaining muscle the honest answer is that Insanity can only provide for muscle definition, and not that much of a bulk. Granted, it will still put couple of pounds solid muscle, but not hing more. Maybe if you up the protein intake. There is a formula in the nutrition guide explaining this.

Your girlfriend will definitely lose the weight, and add some muscle definition.

I have been asked this question before too, and since we are talking about a workout program which is unisex, and the goals are completely different in terms of what guys want to accomplish with their body as opposed to women, it gets confusing.

As far as muscle gain goes, there are couple of things to look at. Protein intake, body weight supplying the resistance (guys weight more), and testosterone levels. Also, guys have the tendency to build muscle tissue way faster and quite more when it comes to it.

wow! it was huge like my blog posts but I won’t deny I read every bit of it and I loved it. I am still on my second week of month two. I have seen some phenomenal results so far, not quite like I expected since i had not been too committed but I am planning to start insanity over again -right after I’m done with the last week that starts on Monday.
is it advisable to start right back again, after 60 days of craziness?

BTW
I totally second you on this

“It’s like a brotherhood of some kind – I
know this sounds silly, but you will see
for yourself.”

Hi Niharika,
I see that you are committed quite a lot, that’s great. Only way to get those results. As for repeating the Insanity again, my advice is to give yourself one week where you will do couple of workouts from the recovery week, and couple of days of stretching. Do these 5-6 recovery days after one or two days of full rest.

My only concern is that…emm I don’t know whether I should spend that amount of money on insanity or just go to the gym…is it like 100% worth the money and ACTUALLY change my overweighted body to a good one!?

Hi Fady,
I was too thinking about this at the beginning. The thing is that going to the gym is great, but it usually goes hand in hand with dissecting and learning some workout routine, or maybe hiring a personal trainer.
And having a trainer is going to amp your results a great deal. You see, being fitness amateurs we don’t quite have the mental preparedness to push ourselves as far as we are actually able to. And with Insanity you get Shaun T, an amazing trainer, who will push you further than you can imagine.
Besides, going to the gym means going back and forth every day, planing what to wear, holding yourself back from punishing your body to the point where you are near passing out :)

And taking in consideration the fact that most people who start with fitness never did some exercise before, putting everything together from learning workouts, to driving back and forth to the gym, to developing the mental attitude to dig deeper is usually a loosing proposition.

I am about to start my insanity transformation. I am 20 years old, roughly 5’7″ and weigh 150 lbs. I am looking to lose about 25 lbs. to be at my ideal weight. I have never had a flat stomach, abs, or arm muscles. I’m hoping that Insanity can change that! I do however have some knee issues to be worried about. I had surgery for my left knee in mid April. I am able to do squats and jumping jacks though. So my question to you is how did having knee issues work with doing Insanity? Also should I do the program considering I am overweight an not in the best physical shape? I used to be an athlete when I was in school. I am a form over reps gal. I would much rather have the form right than have a high number of reps. I know that you are supposed to push yourself but I just don’t want to over do it so basically what I’m getting at is if I do the program at my pace, will I obtain the same results? I would love to have abs and overall just a wicked body! But don’t want to waste time on trying to get there if my knee is going to give me problems. I would greatly appreciate your advice and thanks in advance! :)

Hi Evangelyne, and sorry for replying so late.
To answer your question about your fitness level and starting Insanity I will just say go for it. Sure, a week of basic preparation is going to make a great difference, but Insanity means pushing past your limits. Where those limits currently are, that is not really important.
Insanity is the BEST way to get you shredded in 60 days. If you are quite overweight, chances are that you will not see an eight pack on your abdomen. But you will be getting closer than with any other training method, that’s for sure.

As for the knee problem, I can only speculate. When I first started Insanity I also had a minor knee problem at the time, though it prevented me from doing any physical exercise. As soon as the pain was tolerable I started the program. It tuned out that as I was progressing with the exercises the pain went away. And that was after the first week. Probably due to joint stability and balance exercises, as well as strengthening the muscles around it. Anyway, that was my situation.

Hi, I’m in week 1 of insanity and just finished day 2. I’m quite a skinny guy weighing 51.4kg which classes me as slightly underweight on a BMI index scale. Your review talks about losing body fat and muscle gain/definition. Is it possible for me to gain weight from insanity? If so, what type of foods should i be looking at eating as a healthy diet is vital. Also great review!

Hi Yannick,
To answer your question about muscle gain, yes, you can build muscle. You will need to eat more protein in your diet, and maybe take protein supplementation (I’ve found that whey protein powder works great when taken right after exercise, and Casein protein right before you go to bed). However, don’t expect to build a lot of muscle, since Insanity is mainly centered around fat loss and muscle definition. Though you will see some noticeable difference.

Great review and great blogging. I am thinking about starting the insanity trip but at the moment concentrating on building up my fitness ( I have not trained in 10 years).

What I really want to achieve is loosing my beer belly, and improving my over health and shape, is this a work out that can help with that? Also there is no way I could loose my belly in 2 months so does one then repeat the workout after doing the fitness tests again to re-gauge what the level of intensity should be?

When it comes to improving shape the only fitness program I can think of which is better than Insanity is Insanity: Asylum, but then again it is as close to elite fitness as it can get. Insanity comes, in fact, as second close. It is full of bodyweight exercises, intense cardio intervals, plyometric exercises for explosivenes, as well as many compound exercises which give agility, strength, power… Not only that it is hard for people who were in the army etc., but its unique approach allows for infinite upgrade to one’s fitness level- that is, you can always push harder.

As for replaying it all over- yes, once you finish the first round, you can give yourself couple of days of rest, repeat some of the recovery week videos, and comes Monday you hit the play button again.

Tell you what, Insanity will get you in the best shape of your life. That’s guaranteed. I recently heard that some MMA fighters in Europe started training with some of the videos. The goal is, supposedly to improve their conditioning and more importantly recovery rate, so they can get back at their opponent more quickly.

I was very pessimistic about Insanity when I first saw the commercial but after reading your review/blog I can say I am optimistic an d now will likely go for it.

I have been going to the gym for the past 3 – 6 months months, working on my cardio and muscular so I think I am mentality and physically ready to take on the challenge. I have been a smoker for 10 years and my main primary motive is to gain my fitness levels back up but also losing the stubborn fat around my abdomen area.

My main concern is my working hours are quiet demanding. I work 12 hour shifts with 7 days of every fortnight so: week a – 2 days off, week b – 5 days off. On the days I do work, with travel time included, I am away from my house up to 15 hours. Going from experience most days I am shattered by the time I get home, hence why I have only been going gym on my days off.

If I was to partake the Insanity training just on my days off, will I still reap the benefits? (particularly in the weight loss)?

What would be your suggestion? I am sure that there plenty of others that have demanding working hours also.

I believe I can be of some assistance on this subject. Likewise, I am working rotating 12 hour shifts switching every week between nights and days. Shiftwork tends to give you many bad habits and does mess up your sleep patterns quite a bit. That being said, I am farely new to the program myself and have only completed the second week of Month 1 and it’s totally awesome. I, luckily, am able to stick to doing it all 6 days of the week.

Now, to answer your questions. This program is really a lifestyle change and I do not believe it is written in stone. You will definitely see changes anatomically and mentally/emotionally even if you do it a couple times; however, if you want to see the best and biggest gains then it is paramount to stick to the routine and try to eat a little healthier and hold off on all the junk food (I know what it is to have a craving to eat junk after the wee hours as McDonalds is the only thing open).
If your ultimatum is just weight loss then as mentioned, provided you eat healthier, refrain from the alcohol and junk food and exercise on all your off days then you should see some form of weight loss.

Perhaps someone else can shed some light here. I just wanted to add my 2 cents in as a fellow person working lousy rotational shiftwork.

Hi Naill,
The question you are asking here is whether it is possible to be both busy and have an amazing body (namely weight loss and toning). And the short answer is, it is. You see, the way Insanity is designed is to give you the optimal results in the SHORTEST period of time. If you are not chasing the calendar for some reason, you can lengthen the course of this program by skipping days or modifying exercises (doing only the warm up and the stretch which altogether takes about 15 minutes tops, or maybe repeating a video you consider easier for some reason). I did this the first time after finishing Insanity, and instead of plateauing or retrogressing in terms of results, my body actually improved even more after a while.

However, if you do it this way, healthy food is a must.

Another thing about Insanity which I thing you will find to be great is that you will have extra time you normally spent on going back and forth to the gym.

I would like to thank Slavko for starting this great thread and providing all sorts of people with wonderful support and a knowledge base to turn to. Kudos to everyone here who has successfully completed and is going for seconds.

I am only in my second week and having started this program being fairly active at 175 lbs, 5’11” with 34″ waist I had my preconceptions of how the 2 months were going to look. Boy! what a shock that was. This is one of the most intesive and demanding workout/lifestyle routines I have dealt with.

I have a quick question for anyone that can help me with. I notice there are 3 instructional videos that do not fit anywhere on the schedule
1)Insane Abs
2)Max Interval Sports Training
3)Upper Body Weight Training.

Does anyone have any experience or knowledge how one can incorportate this into the crazy schedule that is already out there?

Hi Justin,
I can tell you are going to have great results with the program.
“This program is really a lifestyle change and I do not believe it is written in stone. You will definitely see changes anatomically and mentally/emotionally even if you do it a couple times” This is really a great way to think about Insanity and hence adapt it to one’s lifestyle. It is not supposed to be a sort of a punishment, but a healthy way of getting in peak physical condition and looks.
And of course it is hard for those whose lifestyle opposed healthy living for the most part of their life. I think the best way of thinking about it is that it is a baptism under fire leading towards a healthy and improved life in general. Thanks for sharing your opinion here, and have fun while getting the great results.

——edit: I notice I forgot answering your question. The Max interval sports training is done as a replacement for core cardio and balance, while the Insane abs is done as a replacement for cardio abs. I advise making the replacement when they appear i the second month, not sooner as they are more demanding.

As for upper weight training, it is for those who enjoy lifting weights and find all that cardio to be too much. There is not really a place in the schedule for this one, so if you want to add some more mass or simply find the type of training interesting, you can switch some of the videos with this one.

I loved the review.. I am on week 2 day 4 today of month one and I already love Insanity.. well I have a love hate thing going on right now but I love it… I tried P90X and I hated it… It was way to slow placed I didn’t want to work out each day but with Insanity I can’t wait to get off work and get home.. i’m trying to lose 30lbs total. I have been eating super healthy cut out breads and pastas and the sodas and sugar.. I eat lots of fruit and veggies and chicken… I eat at least 5-6 times a day drinking up to 4 liters of water a day… my one problem is that I have been under my calories each day some times by 200calories… I’m always hungry but I can’t eat much at my meals.. what are some stuff that are high in calories that are good for me?? Also what are some high protein foods?? I need to up my protein by alot…

Hi Kara, and welcome to the club :)
Your relationship with Insanity pretty much describes my first encounter with it. And believe me, it gets even better and more addictive over time. As for P90X, I haven’t tried it in it’s entirety, only did the videos once as to see what it is like and yes, Insanity is way more fun.

I suppose different people find different types of exercise interesting or exciting. For me cardio does the trick too.

As for calories, try eating healthy and monounsaturated fats (eat olives, add olive oil in your salad, eat hazelnuts, peanuts, almonds…), add omega fatty acids (fish), some natural sugar (honey) and maybe take a protein shake like whey protein powder after your workouts. Protein wise, see to it that you include beans, mushrooms, chickpeas, and lentil when you consume veggies. Whey powder is great too if you cannot eat more meat for some reason.

Thanks for replying… another question… about how many calories does one burn doing Insanity?? I’m planning on getting a heart rate monitor to use I just haven’t found one that I like yet… Also did I see somewhere that there is a facebook page for this blog?? I would love to follow it

It really depends, having things like weight, muscle mass, level of intensity considered. But the guess is somewhere from 600 to 800 calories. It can easily go 1000 if you reach a level of athleticism where you can push yourself that far.
Here is the Fb page https://www.facebook.com/LifestyleUpdated

Hi,
I actually posted a question before and the answer helped, so thanks for that. However i do have another question. I haven’t been following the nutrition guide since i find it difficult to have 5 meals a day, and i am worried i won’t get the results i want. Is there a way i can fix this? I am on my second week of my second month of insanity

Hi Stefano, glad it did.
Dividing your intake so that it fits into small meals throughout the day is important for couple of reasons:
It speeds metabolism, it allows proper replenishment of the muscles allowing them to grow, it keeps your hormonal balance again allowing muscles to grow, it fuels your body so that it can get the most out of your diet without any nutrient remaining not being processed which usually goes to fat tissue deposition.

If you cannot follow the meal plan, since meal preparation is not that easy, I will advise eating less during your main meals (especially lunch), and always carrying some nuts (rich in monounsaturated fats and proteins) and some sort of fruit with you. These will substitute the meals in between.

HI
I just purchased the set and will start Monday. Couple of questions:
1. Do you recommend the workout first thing in the morning or after work?
2. Do you recommend a post workout shake? If so what should I look for in a shake?
3. If I do this in the morning before work should I drink a pre workout shake? I likely won’t have time to eat breakfast and digest it before the workout.
Look forward to your thoughts.
Mary

It is all really up to how convenient it is for you. Results wise you cannot go wrong either way.
When it comes to supplementation it again depends. If you are eating healthy and having enough amount of protein in your diet, then you can go without the shake. Though I will certainly recommend taking one if you feel worn down almost all the time. I usually recommend a protein shake, as to repair the muscles and see the best results when it comes to muscle growth, and the best time would be right after each workout. Haven’t tried the Success and Recovery formula from Beachbody, so I will recommend taking whey protein.

When it comes to abs you will be surprised of the results. Namely, even though there is no single traditional ab exercise in the first week, almost all workouts target the core without you even noticing. You will be able to see your abs even before Videos such as “Insane abs” come next on the calendar.
As far as thighs go, it is usually where most people notice the biggest results. This is due to the fact that most of the exercises are either involving jumping, or leveraging the squat position.

My wife got me into this program, she started it first while I was playing video games :)

With two young kids it is difficult to follow the program to a tee, so I haven’t even tried to do that. We just pick and choose which of the first month videos to do. Time is also an issue as we work out after work but before picking up the kids.

Results have been good and the fitness levels are way up.

For those who struggle, I would suggest just keep doing the first month maybe twice (at least) before moving on to the other videos.

Also, if you are just starting, I might suggest just doing the warm ups (about 10 minutes) for about 4 or five days to let your body get used to the movements and so forth, then try the whole videos.

Even if you can only manage 3 times a week, it is *way* better than nothing at all

Great review! I have just completed my day 2 of month 2 and I am glad that I am not suffering as much as I thought I would. I had been reading about month 2 quite a bit and I have to say I was quite scared. I must say however, that I am nowhere near completing all of the repetitions and I take plenty of extra breaks, but I do generally try my hardest to push my body and mind to the limit.

Anyways, my question is actually regarding what happens, or what should happen, after I complete the program? I have read that a lot of people do Insanity again, but I am not sure I would like to do this. I mean, I decided to do Insanity originally because I wanted to lose weight and get more fit, plus it was and still is a personal challenge, but the thought of starting all over from scratch and go through everything I am still going through 6 days a week is quite daunting, if you know what I mean. Having said that, I was thinking maybe I could repeat it but not with the same frequency; say Mon, Wed, Fri & Sun. Would tat be enough to still obtain results and get lean muscle? What do think? So far I have lost 8 kilos (in 6 weeks) and I have another 12 to reach my recommended weight.

If you want to maintain your physique after Insanity, you can do one of the DVDs from time to time. Sometimes the recovery ones, sometimes the ones that are more cardio oriented.

Another option is to start with some kind of sport or activities such as hiking, climbing, cycling etc.

However, if you want to improve your physique (lose more fat tissue, build more muscle, have better definition) as well as your physical conditioning, you can dedicate additional 3-4 days per week to Insanity like you’ve already mentioned above. It will always lead towards improvement, no doubt about that.
If you want even more however, you can do the Asylum. This is what I did myself and it proved to be a great decision. Here is what Asylum is all about.

I haven’t read every comment, but was wondering if there has been any negative feedback towards the program here? I understand that this website is more likely to attract those that already enjoy it, so I’, just curious.

I too have noticed that this comment section is full with people who already tried it and are now for some reason trying to connect and share their experience. And that’s great :)

But my idea for this review was to attract people who never tried the workout and are, for some reason, skeptical. And there are many of those too (this I know because most of the visitors come through Google, via the phrase “Insanity workout review”)

When it comes to the feedback, most people who already tried it are delighted and have became advocates of this amazing program. As far as negative feedback though, it is mostly from those who had knee issues or some other kinds of injuries and have jumped right into this program. Other than that I can’t seem to recall negative experiences or disappointments.

Thanks for the review!! I’m so pumped to start insanity!!! I have a question about thighs though. You said you lost weight in your thighs but also said you gained muscle. I want my thighs to be very lean and have NO fat. I don’t even care about muscle definition on them. I need my legs to be strong but I don’t want them muscular looking. I need them to be strong because of all the work I do, but I don’t want them looking big and bulky. Ive heared things of all sorts like thighs are determined by genetics or how hard you work them or how you don’t. I want just enough muscle to lift what I need in my legs. Upper body? Sure, bring on the muscle! What should I do to avoid bulky thighs and lose the most fat possible? Should I work them harder? Longer? Less? Strech them? I really have no idea. You’ve said that people notice the most results there, id like to see results there but not the muscular bulky look at all. Thanks for your help. P.S. Ive tried high knees, stretching and squats but nothing seems to be working.

Hi Seth,
The results there are mostly in terms of fat loss. If you notice that you are gaining more muscle mass than you want to, you can shorten the range of motion and alter the form of the exercises very easily. How so? For example, every exercise which involves the thighs (think squats) can be done with half the range of motion- instead of going all the way down, you can lower your body only half the way. This way there is still the burn, but it requires less muscle contractions, hence not destroying the muscle tissue more which will in turn make it grow. Though it is very hard to gain that much muscle using your bodyweight only. So don’t worry.

“Ive tried high knees, stretching and squats but nothing seems to be working.” Insanity will work, believe me. :)

After having 2 kids I have just felt like my body is “ruined”. I have tried diet and exercise and nothing has worked out for me. My best friend said she had the insanity DVDs and I could not wait to try it out! Today was day 1, and I am sore already but I cannot wait to see the results at the end!!

Finaly I started the Insanity program this week and today I did the cardio recovery of the first time.
I just want to comment my short experience with Insanity and ask you some questions about it.

I can say that after the first day my body was sore, very sore, but eventhough the soreness of my body haven’t disappeared completely it has decreased. The beginning of the workouts are quite good for me, but as the workout is going on it is getting more difficult for me to follow the pace (of course, I don’t pretend to follow the pace of those machines)… sometimes it is difficult for me to breath and I have to take a rest, a short one, and then I back to dig again… Since I’ve never had strong arms, the exercises that involve working the arms, shoulders and chests are very demanding for me and I can’t do many reps…
Today I did the cardio recovery… wow… my quadriceps burned like hell… and I couldn’t hold the position all the time and I had to take some seconds rest now and then….
eventhough I finish exhausted every day, the next day I am willing to get home to do the workout…. wow!!
I’ve already lost some weight (a little more than 1 kilo in four days) but I don’t see changes in my body. I have read that after the first week I should see some definition in my body… I don’t think that in two days time I will see any change… but anyway I am going to continue with the program.

And here are my concerns:
Is what I explained normal? I mean, is it more or less what everybody experiences the first days of Insanity?

One of my biggest concerns is the diet plan…. Due to my work schedule it is very difficult for me to eat five times a day… I could manage to eat 4 times a day, but some days only 3… Is it a big problem? What do you advise me to do?

On the other hand, I did the maths and I should eat around 2200 cals… Do I really have to eat so much? Do I have to follow the calorie intake by the book? If I don’t feel hungry, do I should eat up to 2300 cals? Will I get the same results if my calorie intake is less than the one stated by the formula in the diet plan?

Hey Xavier, sorry for replying so late.
What you experience now is very normal. Soreness, even feeling kind of fatigue during the first week or so is a common thing with many people. Though you will probably feel a dramatic rise in energy (if you already haven’t).
As far as diet goes, you are blessed if you can go under your caloric recommendations. I notice that when I reduce carbs to the minimum I go so low in body fat percentage that it is crazy, so if you decide to lower your calorie consumption start there- reduce carbs while keeping protein and fats pretty much the same.
Endurance wise, I see that you are surprised even now about how much your conditioning has improved. This is only the start, you will see.

I’ve just finished week 2 of month 1 and I would like to comment my feelings.
My body is not sore anymore, but some days I felt tired… but I don’t know if it is due to the Insanity workouts, my calorie intake (I think it is less than stated by the formula in the book) or the job…
I have lost 2 kg in two weeks, but I still have fat around my hips and on my belly and some on my chest. Do you think I am going to loss that fat after the program?
On the other hand, after the workouts, I don’t feel so exhausted as I was the first week. Some times I think that it is because I didn’t give my best when doing the workout, but some other times I think that it is because my general fisic condition is improving. What do you think?
I keep having problems with the exercises that involve my arms, especially push-ups… I know my arms have never been strong but I am wondering if after Insanity I will have more strenth in them. Some days I think of trying P90X after finishing Insanity. What do you think? Or do you recomend me The Asylum program?

Hi Xavier,
Let me go right to your questions;
“Do you think I am going to loss that fat after the program?” This is really hard for me to guess. After all I don’t know how much energy you invest into the workouts. Compromising range of motion, speed, not pushing one more rep when you feel like you can’t do more really makes all the difference. So only you can know this for sure. You should feel less tired, yes, but every day should be challenging.

I haven’t tried P90X so any advice here would be just guessing. Asylum is something I will always recommend, though it is the hardest program Beachbody ever came out with.

Hi slavko, loved the review and the infos. I really want to get back in to shape, so right now I am running 6km three times a week and doing simple crunches, push ups etc the other days. My question now is: do you think it is possible to stick to the insanity routine, since I am working 14 hour days, 6 days a week?! Also I think I can manage to prepare breakfast and dinner (to take with me to work), but lunch I for sure will have to eat in the cafeteria at work…I would really love to start this work-out, but I wanna be sure I can master it with my current work load, without setting myself up for failure in advance. I think half the success lies in being mentally prepared to meet the challenge, so I am trying to cover all my bases beforehand. Thanks for your input and tips!

Hi Eva,
To be honest, 14 hours really seem a lot to me. It is almost your entire wake hours part of the day. Albeit Insanity is very intense, it should be fun and rewarding as an experience. I honestly doubt that it will be such for you. If time on the calendar is not the issue here ( you can spare maybe three months instead of two), you can get similar results by doing another program created by Shaun T- Focus T25. It would probably be the best for you, lasting 25 minutes and being done only 5 times per week. I convinced the co-editor of this site to try it and serve as a human guinea pig for the purpose of writing yet another huge review, so you can read it and see if it is the right option for you.

It lasts for two months, it is quite intense, and there is the option of continuing with another extra month (videos not included in the original program but bought separately) that is much more intense (workouts also lasting for 25 minutes).

Is this a new product? I wasn’t even aware of it until a few days ago (I posted 2 days ago but there was a Java issue and the post got lost)

I have been doing insanity for a while now but have never tried any of the videos of month 2 due to time issues. My wife and I work out after work and before we pick up the kids

It seems this may be a better fit (Ha Ha , get it??) for us and I may check it out soon. I was planning on starting month 2 of insanity on Monday and just cutting off the videos when I need to to get the kids.

Not the ideal situation I know, but then again, I don’t follow the diet plan either. Too many things I like too much, like beer and chips (Ahhh beer….my one weakness….)

I also feel that I’m never “ready” to move on to the next set of videos, so I keep redoing the month 1 videos and I have finally completed a week of the recovery videos, which have not been a problem to complete, except those annoying hip flexor burners :)

Anyhow, even though I don’t follow the program, I do what I can and enjoy the results so far (I am 42 and have always been thin, so weight is not an issue). Hopefully this will help my hockey game

Hey Pete, always cool to find out that people do Insanity together at home :)
And the way you describe it it seems like you guys are having so much fun, and enjoying the workout. As far as Focus T25 goes, it sure might be more convenient due to less time needed. The results, though not like the ones from Insanity, are still solid.

Really great effort done here dude, one of the best reviews i read about insanity and really extraordinary tips
and guidelines for the Program.
I’ve got a question for u , I’ve already finished 47 days of the Program workout but I was obligated to stop due to a
back injury, now I’ve started the program all over again from the beginning and I’m asking if I induced the
“insane abs” exercise into a couple of days per week more often than the program schedule indicates, is it OK and safe??

If you can handle doing this video more times per week that is great. You see, if you already lost the weight and now want to burn some extra fat tissue while building more muscle, some of the videos (like max recovery, insane abs, maybe even cardio power and resistance) are great for that. They target more “muscle work” as opposed to cardio.

HI,
I just finished my Insanity program, and am doing a recovery week. Since i haven’t been following the nutrition guide, i don’t have the ripped body i was looking for. Any suggestions on what to do after the recovery week, i was thinking about Body Beast.

I’m curious about how much of a change you actually did notice and what was your diet like. Shaun T has talked about great results physical-conditioning-wise (not looks) even without following a healthy diet, so I also wonder how is your fitness level now.

As for a suggestion, I recommend Insanity Asylum- the hardest program Beachbody ever produced. I’ve heard Shaun T in a live chat video saying how he would love more than anything in the world for his body to stay the same as it was when he was doing the Asylum. Though my thinking is that without following a healthy diet (not the guide, mind you) in general, it is near impossible to have ripped body.

I was aiming for a six pact and to get a more toned body. I got slightly toned, but my abs aren’t there. So i was looking for a program that would get me a really nice six pack, and since i don’t want to do another round of insanity, because it’s so hard, i would do body beast for a while. I actually thought of doing Asylum, but i would have to get too much extra stuff, is there a way around it? if so i would do it.

For Asylum, all you need is the agility ladder, jump rope, bands (all of which are included in the package), and a set of dumbbells bought separately.
As for the six pack, as much as body beast will provide muscle growth (note that I haven’t tried the program so I can only guess) my thinking is that Asylum will give you less bulk, though bringing your body fat percentage so low that the abs will show. However, none of this is possible if you don’t follow a healthy diet.

“You can try the P90X, finish it, and then still have a hard time dealing with the Insanity workout.

That’s how hard the Insanity workout is”

I didn’t like this comment at all because you could say the same for most of the Beachbody workouts. You could finish Insanity and still have a hard time with P90X. You could finish P90X and still struggle with Body Beast. Each of the Beachbody programs have their own goals!

im on my last week of insanity im 24 yrs old i have lost 15-20 pounds so i weigh around 160. but im a little disappointed. i dont see the six pack at all in my body like i do in the ads. i have been on a strict diet eggs, chicken, brown rice, vegs, n fruits nothing else. i dont rink a protein shake or the recovery formual. so not sure if thats the reason.

Hi Robert,
Not drinking the shake has nothing to do with it. If you eat healthy you don’t need any additional supplementation.

Now as far the results go, I cannot tell for sure without knowing the full scope of your situation. It is important that you get enough sleep, stay away from alcohol, push very hard during your workouts. Being realistic, abs are hard to show if people are really, really overweight. However, judging by what you say, that is not the case with you.

Taking an uninformed guess, it might be that you are not pushing yourself enough. That’s the best guess I can come up with based on the info you gave me (it seems like you are doing everything else right). Oh, and how many calories you eat per day? Roughly, since I’m not into calorie counting, but it makes a huge difference if you are trying to lose weight and eat couple of hundredth more. What I try to ask is- do you objectively think that you eat more than what you need?

Once again, this is the best guess I can come up with. I would really like to know more about it.

thank you for replaying to my message. i do feel i am pushing myself cause i do keep up with them and by the end im dead n my shirt is soaked in sweat. i mean i do take a few breaks but who doesnt so i dont feel it the pushing hard in the work outs. i mean i do feel my stomach getting tighter i just dont really see the abs poking out i do feel it is forming i just really dont want to do aonther another 2-3 weeks

Hey Jeff,
I would recommend taking a break from football at lest for one or two weeks. Then, as I’m sure you will notice by yourself, you will need more rest and richer nutrition. Protein supplementation would probably suffice.
Anyway, as in order to see the best results, my advise would be doing only Insanity. That way the muscles will be able to regenerate faster and hence grow. But, if you are not chasing the two-months time frame, you can experiment by even replacing some days of Insanity workouts with football.

Hi!
I’ve been thinking about trying insanity for a week or so now, and after a quick overview of your article I’ve finally decided to do so! I definitely need some preparation first though (maybe a lot), so my question to you is: how much do you think I need to prepare? I’ve been lifting weights at the gym 2-3 times a week for about a year or so now (nothing super serious) which has improved my strength and given me some muscle, but I’ve also gained some fat. The problem is that I haven’t done any type of specific cardio workout for years now, so a good idea would probably be to start doing some jogging or something. But how often? And for how long, before even having a chance of getting through Insanity? Do you have any other tips on workouts I could try before jumping into this? These questions might be stupid and hard to answer exactly, but just a rough answer would be really helpful! Looking forward to your opinions and thoughts :)

Just adding my own experience here. I’m on Day 10 and have started Insanity from a fairly sedentary lifestyle (couch potato!). I am very unfit due to lack of exercise but have a heart that is healthy enough to cope with high impact exercise. So long as you go at YOUR pace and are realistic about what you’re able to do in the first few days, I don’t think you need major preparation. My mistake was trying to keep up with the super fit athletes in the background! Now I realise that it’s just about going at your own steam, even if that means painfully slow at first, and then pushing harder as you get deeper into the programme. I hope this helps. If you want to read about how I got on in the first few days, check out my blog. All the best for your plans! Insanity is hard work but it’s a blast!

Hey thanks for this comment! I was thinking about this as well, going with the program in my own pace, but wasn’t sure if it would be a good idea or not for some reason. I’ll definitely try it if it works for you! Nothing’s wrong with my heart so I don’t see why it wouldn’t work for me too. Thanks for sharing! :)

Hi I’ve been doing Insanity off and on for about 4 months now but never made it to month 2. I started it again last month and have been consistently following the workouts each week. I’m just about to finish the first month and seeing great results (10 pounds already). I’m to the point where I can finish the whole workout with just a few breaks here and there. I was wondering how important the recovery week is? I was thinking about going straight into month 2

Even if you can handle the load from month two and can easily start with the workouts, the recovery week is still going to benefit your body. The drop in intensity will for sure allow your muscles to recuperate and hence grow more.
However, if it is more convenient out of any reason whatsoever, you can of course skip the recovery week and go straight to month two.

This is an excellent review! Thank you very so much for sharing with us. I´m about to get Insanity. I live in Mexico City and there´s a way to get it from beachbody.com but it takes more time to get it delivered here. I have a question about the diet, i´m doing the Atkins diet which consist of getting rid of all carbohydrates and only eat protein and natural fat. I have lost 5 kg in one week and 5 cm of waist. This diet is really working for me and i don’t want to stop it. Would you recommend to keep this diet and do Insanity at the same time? Also, Insanity would get me a six pack after the 2 months of the program?. Thank you in advanced for your reply and again, congratulations on your review and advices. P.S. Sorry for my bad English!

The thing is, you really need carbs in order to have energy. Granted, you can somehow handle carbs depletion, and in some cases, like with the Atkins diet, even find this practice beneficial. However, Insanity requires a LOT of energy. That being said, you need some carbs. Here is my advice- Try and get your carbs from sources like Vegetables and small quantities of fruit.

As for the six pack- if you have the discipline to go very low with the carbs, you will be surprised how quickly the abs will show up. Trust me.

Hi again, I’ve commented here before mostly about time restrains with picking up kids.

I have been doing the month two workouts for a couple of weeks now, although I have not been really keeping track. I tried a couple of the Focus 25 videos but didn’t really like them all that much. I found there was too much “fancy footwork” for my liking and I can’t see the added complexity being beneficial.

Anyhow, the cardio is *way* up and I certainly notice that while I’m playing hockey. During the videos, I find it’s my muscles that are letting me down and not so much the cardio

I try to do the three main month 2 videos Mon, Tues, Wed. Thursday I try to do Insane Abs. Friday (which was yesterday) I did month 1 Plyo circuit as hard as I could, then played hockey that night (as hard as I could). Saturday I had a really hard time with the max plyo (the one with level 3 drills) and couldn’t finish.

How long do you think I should do month 2 as shown until I need a break, and what break do you suggest? I want to keep up the cardio up, but will the recovery week videos be enough?

In your view you said I would get addicted and you are right (I wish I could get addicted to the diet plan!). I actually feel bad if I don’t do a workout or if I have to stop to pick up the kids. Given that, many times I do dread doing the workout because I know it’s very long.

If your body feels good, then prolong the break period. If you are planning on doing month two longer than the advised period, then try this type of break- You can take one week and just do couple of the videos without any specific sequence (the ones you find interesting, less demanding…) During this week, you can also add variety by doing something completely different- swim, lift weights, run, do yoga, bike… For one day, that is.
So it goes- two or three workouts from Insanity (in order to keep the shape), one day of doing some type of sport or whatever, and the rest of the week for either full rest or some light physical activity.
Btw Hockey sounds great. I started ice skating month or so ago, and became addicted. So far, I’m only trying to improve my skating, but who knows, if things go well maybe I will try playing.

As for the workouts being long and all, maybe it’s time to try the Asylum. Somewhat shorter videos (when compared to month two), and lot more intensity :)

Thank you! This review helped so much. I’m 15, but I’m super into fitness. I have a hard time losing stubborn fat, and I KNOW insanity will do the trick. I’m going to find a friend to do it with me- I like the partner idea. Your review was very useful. I’m so ready to start it! Well… Mentally, I am. I should probably work on getting more reps of push-ups in first. But, this review really motivated me, and answered questions I wouldn’t have thought to ask, but needed an answer! Thanks again!

Hi!!
First! Great review!! It really is the first one to convince me that there aren’t just pros and that I can actually do this!
I’ve got some questions though. I’ve been trying to convince myself to get into shape and work out for some years now but I’ve never really felt like I could. I know if I try Insanity I will get through it – somehow, at least :) – and that I won’t quit before finishing the two months. But I’m worried about how it’s going to affect my everyday life. I’m currently a university student in a career that demands a lot of time for homework and studying and a lot of energy sometimes (chemical engineering). I can fit Insanity in in the evenings but I want to know , would it be a good idea if I did it in the evenings? Or would it be better if I did it in the mornings?
Following that thought, considering your experience, how tired did Insanity leave you during the two months? Was it too hard to concentrate afterwards or, well, you know, how did it feel afterwards a workout?
I’ll really be helpful for all your advice!!
Thank you!!

Hi Gisela,
I’m glad that you are considering the Insanity workout and moreover have the determination to go through it. As far as time restrictions go, as well as energy levels, there are few things that I have in mind.
Yes, during the first week or two your energy levels will probably be drained. But judging from experience, I’ve found that during days where I either skip workout, or decide not to be active for more than two days in a row, I feel quite more lethargic. I never prefer the morning workouts, since mornings are usually my most productive time of the day. Besides, working out during evenings, I think that I’ve achieved a record fall-a-sleep time. For me at least, after that week or two of adjustment, I consider my concentration to be improved precisely because of exercise.

However, if you are in a major doubt about diving straight into something like Insanity, you can maybe try Focus T25. The great thing about it is that although the intensity of the workouts is somewhat closely matched with that of Insanity, it lasts for only 25 minutes per day. An excellent overture to fitness and high intensity workouts. Here is a review for it as well- http://www.lifestyleupdated.com/focus-t25-review/

I hope that this answers some of your questions. Take care and have a great New Year :)

Great review! I actually considered reading this before I divulged on the Insanity workout. I’m on my third day now and… I have to admit, it’s insane but the aftermath of the workouts feel so good. I just have this concern, though. I have an active lifestyle before I got into Insanity. I’m 19, in college and a Taekwondo athlete. I’m doing Insanity because I want to build up my cardio and stamina for our upcoming sparring competition. Since school is about to start after the holiday break, I’ve decided to do Insanity every morning (around 6:30am because I have 9am classes everyday) and in the afternoon (every Monday, Tuesday, Thursday), I have Taekwondo training which goes on for about two hours. My fear is that I’ll end up being in fatigue and in burnout from too much workouts. Am I going to end up overtraining because of this? Thank you so much.

I remember when I was coaching two groups for couple of times per week, and it overlapped with my training, some hardcore bicycling once or twice per week, and late night partying. The epilogue was increased cardio endurance (cannot stress this enough), but constant feeling of faigueness, even less concentration on work and so forth…

If your concern is physical ability only, then you can structure your training so that it includes not 5-6 but rather 3 videos from Insanity per week. Early classes, training that stretches for two hours three times per week, every day with Insanity which is kind of enough as it is… I cannot guess what the rest of the day looks like, but even if you lead an overall healthy and disciplined lifestyle, this still comes close to how some athletes for the Olympics prepare.

My advice is to go over all the videos in order to see which one correlates with your goals the most, and then stick with that rotation for three or four times per week, instead of the prescribed six.

Would love to know how will things turn out. Drop us a line if you can.
Take care

Anyway, loving it, you can certainly feel it work, took me a good half hour to fully recover, but would recommend it to anyone, even the guys in the video were stopping occasionally which made me feel better.

Hey Steve,
As far as the recovery formula goes, you can do just fine without it as well. If you need additional protein supplementation, whey protein usually does the trick. As for the results from the fit test, they look OK, though you must always try and maintain form instead of chasing more reps. How are things going so far?

Hi, I am 37 with just 3 KGs overweight but perhaps all my fats have deposited at my tummy making my wasit line 38. I have done alot of workouts in my life but am out of touch for the last 3-4 years. My cholestrol level is also touching the upper limits of moderate level. Do you think Insanity will work good for me and help me get back in shape and lower my cholestrol level as well?

Your review was the reason one of my friends started doing Insanity. He was so obsessed with it at first that he even convinced me and two other friends to give it a shot. I had done a lot of different training programs prior to Insanity, but nothing even came close to it. The program is crazy and the results I have seen people get from it are even crazier. This is one of the most through reviews I have seen for any training program and I am sure it has benefited a lot of people – nice work!

– Dave

Note to other people reading this review: If you are thinking about doing Insanity, make sure you do it – you’ll be glad you did.

Thank you for your amazing effort of keeping this post updated and motivate everyone to get in better shape with insanity! I´ve just started today with the fit test and it was really hard! Theese where my results; tell me what you think:

I’ve read 90% of the thread and its been really helpful and incisive! So thank you!!

I have wanted to do insanity for a while now but as im not too keen on loosing a lot of weight, just my middle mostly, I have been rather apprehensive BUT I want to increase my fitness and core strength. Insanity is a huge plus in terms of fitness, endurance, core and toning etc but I don’t want to loose my bulk NOR pull up strength I have worked hard for. I know this is not incorporated in the training.

I train in the gym 4 times a week and have done for 10 years; mostly weight training and power lifting. More recently I have been concentrating of body strength and compound exercises for my upper body. My main goals are for size and strength on my lower half and unlimited strength on my upper, ie. Pull ups and push ups. I will give you an example of my schedule:

I start each session with only 10 minutes of high intensity cardio and after each session I do 20 mins of stretching and abs.

So my question is, can I still train my legs and incorporate my pull ups whilst training insanity? This is on the principle of training once a day. I really want to get the most out of it but don’t want to neglect the “bulk”.

Hey Danielle,
Insanity might compromise strength gains, but I think this is more likely for guys who lift very heavy weights, and then suddenly stop and do something like Insanity. I cannot be sure though. If not, try and do Insanity for a week, and see how it goes. I think they still have a return policy that is fully functional.
If you do so, drop me a line because I’m curious about how things might go.

Hey, I’m glad I found a comprehensive review! My name is Tiffany and I am 14. I play tennis for the school varsity team and I usually just do average cardio and strength training. I was thinking of doing Insanity from Monday through Thursday. (Maybe Plyometrics on Monday, Upper Body Resistance on Tuesday, Pure Cardio on Wednesday, and Recovery on Thursday.) Then I was planning to cool down on Friday with just some relaxing tennis and then do some running/situps/pushups on Saturday and take Sunday off. First of all, do you think this would be safe for my age? We have done Insanity in school before throughout the years, and I managed quite well. Additionally, do you think this would reap sufficient results and also help me get in even better shape for my sport? As for my diet, if I just stuck with natural foods and an even balance of the “food pyramid,” would that give me enough energy to complete the workouts? Thanks for your time!
-Tiffany

Hey Tiffany,
The way I see it, this looks promising. If you follow the diet you described, the workout schedule might bring you even better results than the original, since you will have more rest. The original schedule is designed so that it helps people LOSE the most amount of fat tissue while also improving aspects like muscle mass, strength, flexibility, overall performance and so forth. Yours will probably give you better results with performance, that I’m very sure with.

I started the programme a week ago and over the past few days I’ve started to feel really sick and get a really bad tension headache around lunch time every day. I’ve always eaten healthy but have ramped this up a notch since starting. I used to drink quite heavily and have cut this completely out for about 3 weeks now. Is this normal?

Hi Sadie,
Are you getting enough sleep? Try and maybe take a nap after lunch if you feel tired all the time. How much proteins, carbs, and healthy fats do you consume? Are you getting enough hydration. This is usually the problem for most.

Do you need to drink that recover formula? Is it just protein shakes I can get anywhere. Plus, if I am “trying” to be on a low carb diet that doesn’t follow the protein, carb and fat ration, does it still work?

Sure Lai, the thing is to consume enough protein as to repair the “damage” you made to the muscle tissue with the workouts. If you can go low on the carbs, that’s even better. Myself, I followed that exact approach.

Hi there. Great review on the INSANITY.
I’ve played sports most of my life and I thought I was in really good shape. I’ve had 2 knee surgeries (both left & right). About 6 years ago, I injured what I thought was my groin. I’ve gone to specialists (sports medicine, injected with novocain, etc.), to figure out what the injury was, because after 3 years, it wasn’t healing, and none of them could figure it out. Fast forward to 2 years ago, I thought I was done with sports, so I decided, to stay in shape, I’ll try the INSANITY. Not only did this exercise help with my cardio & physique, but I am able to play sports again. The exercises combined with yoga-type stretching, I believe helped me heal from my inure (which now I figured was a “hip flexor” injury). I just played in a softball tournament in Jan., and didn’t get injured. I ran around the bases like I hadn’t been injured before.
I am now on my last week of INSANITY: The Asylum Volume 2.
So I highly recommend this exercise to anyone who is thinking about getting it. Most of all, don’t quit. Take your breaks (you’ll need it), just don’t quit.

Sorry guys for replying so late… Anyway, it is not a problem if you can handle it. It might affect your sleep cycle, but all depends. I know I’ve done Insanity couple of times right before going to bed and slept like a lamb. On the long run, I don’t know, though you can take a shot.

Write back if you decided to test it, so others know as well.
Take care Luis

Hello. I have lost 25kg in one year without insanity.but now i want abs. So i have started to do Insanity which is just awesome!!! I have seen most results in the first month. My tummy is flatter and more definition on the shoulders upper arm and thighs gone toned up for sure. I am now on month 2 week 3. Physically I am fitter but I have kinda stopped seeing results towards my tummy and its annoying. I have actually increased by a kilo last month but lost 4cm around my waist so im not freaking out. But Im not sure whats happening to my tummy. I have been following the insanity diet plan for the first three weeks but not anymore but I eat clean five times a day. its like im still following the food plan but with other alternatives. I basically needed something to keep in good shape, to get toned abs and to be able to eat.
I would be really grateful if you could enlighten me on that tummy issue.
Thank you in advance.

Hi Oumiiraa
Some people (like myself) see results in the abdomen section rather faster than others. But don’t worry. Just try to add more of the cardio abs or Insaine abs videos. Cardio abs is probably more suitable, since the other one is both long and freakishly hard. Try to do it, say, additional 2 times per week. How are things going now?

Not seeing muscle development is probably due to couple of reasons. First, make sure you are doing the form right- range of motion is important, ex. going deep into the lunge, stretching the arms as much as you can during jumping jacks etc. Going faster on the expense of not doing the exercise right, means you are not targeting the exact muscles the exercise is specifically made for.

Second- add as much intensity as you can. Often times we are not going deep enough for the sake of lasting longer. Forget that, give your maximum even if that means resting the following 30 seconds.

And third, something that many people neglect- Rock solid sleep (7-8 hours), enough protein, healthy fats, and enough carbs so you feel energized and not depleted.

Just started Insanity and in the middle of my second week. I am a retired dancer, and have been doing Jillian Michaels for the past year. I tried T25 and did not find it challenging. I am not a very big person, but have noticed that my thighs, and glutes are getting bigger. I walk 2 times a day, teach dance classes, run after my 5 year old and work at a farm. I am also a vegetarian. I am so hoping that Insanity will shred what I feel like are large areas and make then long and lean again. I love the intensity of Insanity. I do feel like I am in pretty good shape. The fit test truly was not an issue, and I was at or above the norm. Please don’t think of me as conceded, just being honest. Any tips would be appreciated.

i am not fat but i want to tone my lower body up. my work routine is from 9 to 6 and add 1.5 hours to transiting back to home so working out for longer than an hour gets really tough for me. do you think this workout is suitable for me?

Hi,
I don’t know if your still reading these but here goes; me and my friend have just started insanity and are onto day 4. As we are both uni students money is pretty tight so we are not able to follow the diet very well as we are in lectures all day. But for tea i make sure that i have either pasta bake or chicken in order to make sure i get the carbs and protein i need.
Does this matter as I have stubborn fat on my lower stomach that I am hoping to lose by doing this workout or will i need to follow the diet in order to get rid of this fat?
Also doing this workout means my bodies aching, what would you suggest to help with the aching or is there nothing that really helps?

Hi Rhian,
Sorry for replying late, I still hope this will help you somehow.
Yes, the diet plan will give you great results. And yes, you can still have a great body without following it. Make sure you are eating enough protein, and make sure you are taking your carbs from sources like vegetables and fruits if you want to cut down on fat quickly. Oat Flakes are great too, and they are my favourite source of carb.

Hi Thanks for sharing this insanity review. I’m from the Philippines and planning to start the program. Your review is awesome and I cant wait to see my self after 60 days. I’m a single mom and i want my belly to flatten and to be healthy as much as i can for myself and for my daughter too. Wish me luck now and I will start this workout asap. Looking forward for the best result! Cheers! GB :)

Great review thanks! Today I start my 2nd week of Insanity, I’m addicted already! I tried Insanity about 5 years ago i my mid thirties and didn’t even finish the fit test! Now at 40 I’m much fitter, I run between 5 & 10k a couple of days a week, thought I’d give Insanity another go! So far so good, I’m completing the workouts, not doing as many reps as on screen, but can feel even in the last few days that I am fitter and muscles are starting to feel a little tighter already :) I’m not over weight, I just want to tone so hoping for good results!

Just want to ask and confirm something. I started the fit test last Monday and wasn’t able to do the exercises for tuesdaY AND WEDNESDAY. is that ok? what exercise should i do next? should I continue or stop and start again from the beginning?

Great review!
I actually am reading this review on my 6th day into insanity. I used to be in shape just like many people but after being in college, junk food and parties I started becoming overweight. I had bought p90x but never finished it I always would do it for a week or two and then quit upon any excuse I would find. I am really determined to finish Insanity and reading this review and comments from other people just motivates me even more!! I have one question,,, the first 3 days were just crazy and was hard to keep up but did my best then the recovery and and the 5th day I felt really well starting out but towards the end of the routine I would feel good on the cardiovascular level but my muscles seemed to be out… could this be because of my diet this happened today as well on my 6th day?? Im eating 2-3 servings of fruit in the morning, and a shake,.,.workout 11-12 in the day and after workout 30-40g of protein.,, in a shake and in food (tuna, chicken breast) and vegetables then at 4-5 I will eat again a light meal and fruit,,, thanks for your time and greetings from México!

If you are still having problems with muscles being sore or giving up, try and add more rest. Recovery usually plays a big role with muscle soreness, or lack thereof. How are things going? I guess you are finishing month 2. Drop us a line if you read this, thanks

Whenever you are starting a second round, or doing a second program (I did Asylum after completing Insanity) You need to take couple of days of rest. Not full rest, but light exercises, stretching, or so on. I myself, took one whole week where I did two days of full rest, one or two days of yoga exercises, and another two with minimal sports activities (cycling)… In between these days I did one video from the first month.
These programs are intense, so make sure you are not jumping from one round right into the other. The recovery week might help, but I find it better if you change the routine slightly.

I am a 36 yr old mother of 3. I weigh 199.2 pounds and am 5’4. I just completed day 1, the “test” death was waiting patiently at my door to see if I would pick myself off the floor in the puddle of sweat I was lying in. Some how I did and drug my self to the DVD player and removed the torture disc. Now that I have cooled back down and no longer feel like puking/fainting/dying, I feel accomplished. If I can do this, then so can you. Read above where he says to lower the air conditioner.. do that.. do not skip that vital step.. It is as important as daily hygiene. I drank plenty of water.. maybe too much hence the nausea, but as for the eating I should have planned a little better.. Tomorrow I will be better than today..I have the power to make my own changes.

And never fret, even if you skip one day, get back into it the day after. Being consistent doesn’t mean not making mistakes and having bad days- but staying with it despite the bumps on the road. Try to show up every day and you will be amazed how much your body will change.

Having said this, I’m entering the challenge once again after couple of months neglecting my health and fitness. Yup, that’s right, we are in it together again.

Hi,
I’m 14, 171 cm, 68 kgs, 80 cm around my waist, I’m on my 3rd week of insanity. From the US Navy body fat calculator I am, 15-17% body fat. I wanna drop down to a body fat % where my abs are clearly seen and my body doesn’t look like an hourglass. My abs are starting to vaguely show though. I’d also like to get a big chest and some nice lats, pretty much a body to get the girls going when I go on a school swim trip in 3 months. Also I don’t really do the stretches nor the thursday pilates is this okay? I also can’t really follow the diet plan, I sometimes eat muesli bars to fill the gaps between the normal meal times, and I also eat a bit of white rice (can’t help it, it’s in my cultural diet). All I’m asking is if I keep going will this happen? Because the results I saw online weren’t really the one I imagined from what I was told.
Any answers will be welcomed
P.S. I’m doing my next fit test tomorrow so I’m checking out if I got stronger.

hi everyone …i start doing this insanity workout 3 weeks ago…now i have this problem with my left ankle it start hurting and swallowing i did try to go thru the pain but i just cant do it…so i missed 4 days already and i feel so bad cause i started to enjoy it more and more…i don’t know what to do…did any of you guys experience any of this ankle pain ? if yes and have any advise i will take it cause i really want to finish the program …thank you

I also began Insanity early in July. I started suffering from my lower back after 10 days and despite of good stretch and some relaxing balm, I have not been able to get rid of it. I am planning to visit my osteopath.

I am quite surprised as it is not my first fitness programme but it is the first time that I suffer so much from back pain (never had any problems before).

Great review, I should have read this before starting the insanity… I began my fitness journey in November 13 doing some Turbo Fire (not fully committed, about 4x a week), then I did it more seriously during a few weeks but I found it too long regarding my working mummy’s schedule. I switched for T25 (mainly seduced by the short duration of the workout) which I did completely and I loved it (and had great results). I did all the phases: alpha, beta, gamma & hybrid (18weeks if I’m not wrong). Time for summer time so more time for myself, I decided to give a try to Insanity. I have done the first month and I’m on the recovery week but I am quite disappointed (because of the programme and mainly because of myself). I have lost muscles definition, especially on the arms and abs while I have not the feeling to have improve my cardio performance. I am a fan of biking and I’m so exhausted by these workouts that I can hardly do half-way of my normal biking session (outdoor mountain biking). End of the first month was extremely hard but I have discovered that I was a little sick (not that much but still influencing my health condition). I am not sure about the benefits of this programme, I have the feeling that you keep on being exhausted which I don’t feel great. Indeed, I never sweat like this before, I mean never but… In terms of results (of course, I have not achieved month 2 yet), I found the T25 to be most effective and less exhausting. I would be alike to go on with the Insanity but only if I can get better results in terms of cardio. For people who have done several times the programme, was it as hard as for the first round ?

I just received insanity in the mail but after reading your review I think I will do a few weeks of Hip Hop Abs and jogging again just to get back into workout shape and prepared for Insanity. Had I not read this I may have bit off more then I can chew and possibly given up. Great review. Loved the breakdown.

With insanity it’s all about how hard you push yourself. As long as you do them and try to keep up. There’s been people that have been like huge and have done it and lost a bunch of weight and that’s only because they were motivated to get it done.

Hi,
Read the most helpful review. Thanks for posting it.
I am all determined to start. I watched couple of videos and thought the moves were suitable for a leaner body.
I am 28,female and 196 pounds.I have heavier upper body.
After watching the videos,i thought to myself I will give my best. But is this for me? Can I do those moves with big belly obstructing? Waiting to hear from you.
Thanks
Remain Blessed
Jessie

First of all, thanks a lot for the great review. You did an amazing job.

My wife and myself are about to start the Insanity program next Monday September 1st.

My wife is 37 years old, 123 pounds and 65.35 inches tall.

I am 38 years old, 210 pounds and 6 feet tall.

We both do sport on a weekly basis, something like 3 times a week on average, jogging, tennis and cycling.

We decided to start the program to get back in proper shape, my wife having given birth to 2 beautiful kids and myself having been through a few injuries (ankles, hamstring and groin over the last 18 months), plus the fact that like a good meal with a good bottle of wine.

We did the fit test last night for the first time in order to make sure that we are able to do the whole thing. Feeling a bit sore this morning but everything went well.

We will keep doing our regular sport activities until the end of the week, which means jogging and tennis.

We also started looking at the diet plan. We will try to be as strict as possible on that level in order to see best results. We won’t stick 100% to the meals in the brochure, but we are preparing menus for next week looking at the calories and the 40% protein, 40% carbs and 20% fats combo.

We are both very excited about the challenge and happy to find a program that we can do together.

I want to do the Insanity Workout, but I’m an absolute beginner with a knee problem from running on the treadmill, any advice?
Is there something I could use to support my knee and do the workout anyway?

Hey! I loved the review. I’m currently waiting for my insanity program to arrive! But I’ll be traveling in the last month of the workout.. Meaning I may miss the last week or two… I really want a flat tummy and the stubborn fat around my waist. Will I achieve that by then even without finishing? I also plan on starting the program again to actually finish, and I was wondering how long do you recommend before I restart the program? Thank you!

Well it really does sound insane…but I am going to try it. I am 6’4″ and 13.5 stone but with very little muscle definition. Added to which I have a 200 mile mountain bike challenge to do over 3 days next July so I need to get fitter. Thanks for the review and the inspiration to do this.

This is the most non biased review I’ve ever seen on the insanity workout. I started insanity 4 years ago weighing in at 300 lbs of pure fat and busted my butt off for 2 mths and in the end I ended up dropping down to 235 lbs. I chucked it up to determination, motivation and discipline.

Fast forward 4, almost 5 years later and I’m back up to 260 lbs. I made life get in the way and I’m disappointed in what I’ve done to myself. I’m starting insanity next Monday and will be taking control of my life again. Unless you have a physical disability, I honestly believe ANYONE can do this program. It up to YOU to push play and dig deep!

Hello I’m currently on my 4th week of insanity and it is awesome. I have been following mu 40 40 20 nutrition but today I had a great downfall for whatever reason. Should I continue where leaving off or I start program over? Will this 1 bad day set me back tremendously? I plan on getting back on track tomorrow its just today I ate horribly a little over my calories and macros ratio. Please help im worried. Lol

Hi, I’m 54 and I’ve been interested by the Insanity commercials.
I used to frequent a gym 5/6 evenings per week for 3 years just doing CV workouts, that was just over 10yrs ago, my weight was then 78kg/170lbs I am now 85kg/187lbs. Over the past 5/6 yrs I have not done any real form of exercise, become lazy, now looking to feel and look better again. Any advice please?
Adrian

Hi, I’m a 18 y/o man and currently weights 176 pds for 5,6 feet.
I’m motivated to do Insanity to lose my belly fat and to improve my performance in order to play squash.
But I have some questions before I begin the program :
– I can only do 4 meals/day (can’t to mid-morning snack) so is it a problem ?
– When is the better period to do Insanity? As I am studying, i’m not free the morning, so is it ok to do it during the afternoon (like 1 hour after eating?)
Thank your for your review and maybe your future answer :D

I don’t think 4 meals should be a problem. As long as you are eating the right foods and it adds up to the total number of calories you need it shouldn’t have much effect on results. I would just make sure to spread them out enough so that you don’t feel hungry throughout the day and give your body the constant fuel. The time of day you do the workout should not matter either. I find that it does help to do the workouts around the same time each day though so that it becomes a part of your daily routine.

Thank you for writing such a good review. I would, however, like to add my opinion about comparing Insanity to P90X. I am a 41 year old female who is a P90X grad and is now in the middle of a P90X2 / Insanity hybrid (which I actually started to incorporate into my last phase of P90X). It is really not fair to try and compare the two programs to which is “harder” as they are two programs focused on different aspects of fitness. Insanity is very much cardio based with some weight-resistance added in whereas P90X is weight resistance and weight lifting based with some cardio added in. Insanity is extremely hard because you are working through moves while your heartrate is at an intense pace. P90X is extremely hard because you are doing reps of either weights or your own weight resistance to failure, every time, until your body feels like Jello. If you think P90X is easy, try doing pushups to failure in the time allotted and then turn around and do pullups to failure in the time allotted and so on and so forth with few breaks in between. Personally, I think both programs complement each other. Having started P90X before Insanity actually helped me because the strength moves in Insanity were so easy for me to do (squatting deeper, doing the pushups faster, etc). At times I’ve had to wait for the people on the Insanity videos to keep up to me because I could do the strength moves so fast. I can burn the same amount of calories in a P90X or X2 workout as I can in an Insanity workout – it all depends on how hard I push myself. Please don’t get me wrong, Insanity is insanely hard, but comparing the two programs is like comparing apples to oranges. You get out of them what you put into them

Congratulations for your review, very useful , clear information….I´m so glad I found your article… .I started the insanity 15 days ago and I already saw results….my body is changing fast…incredible!!!….I´m 34 years old and I have to agree with you…Insanity is painful, tiring, hard and extremely crazy,….. sometimes I think that I gonna die during the exercises…but it works!!….There is just one thing that I have doubt…and I would like your help….I know that the 1°s six DVD´s is for the 1°s month and the others for the 2°nd month, but the sequence between DVD´s I don´t know…for example:…Can I do the “Plyometric Cardio Circuit” twice a week and skip some recovery?…I know the answer is “yes”…but I would like to follow some guide…to do the right thing!……So is going to be, Monday through Friday or Monday through Saturday or Seven days per week?…… Thank very much for your help.

Insanity advertises online help through its beachbody web site. However, you can only join if you live in Canada or the USA, as these are the only options allowed in the relevant drop down box on the sign up page. Do you know if there is a UK online community?

Great review! Very accurate and unbiased. I did insanity like four times last year and was in incredible shape, but then things got really busy so I took a break and now I just restarted it. I’m ridiculously sore!! Btw, anyone know whether it makes a difference whether or not I do the videos in order..?

Hey Slavko,
I have read the review and I loved it, I’ve got the videos before a year and when I started the workouts I had little knowledge about the Insanity so I went for a couple of days and I stopped it, one of the reasons is that I got lazy!!. I am 25 years old, and I weigh around 385 pounds and my height is 6.2 foot. Thank god I don’t have any issues like diabetes or cholesterol or any obese problem because of, I was a sport teenager before I used to play many sports like tennis, badminton and swimming etc. but for the past 5 years I stopped playing sports and concentrated more in my studies. So after reading the review I am so motivated now that I will start immediately at the beginning of the next week. My concern is that I wont be able to the whole exercise like I mean I may get tired or I may rest for a second or two in between the sets, would this effect my end performance or result? my other question is that, after I am done with the 60 days Insanity program what should I do shall I start it again or shall I go for another training, because if I will transfer to another program I may lose interest and stop to exercise after Insanity, so would I have the same result as when I finish Insanity for the first time?
I apologize for the long comment but I am so interested and motivated that I will give it my best to finish this program. I wish that you will reply to my questions and concerns and happy new year

Hey Sultan, I’m not Slavko but I have a couple tips that might help you –
1) resting for a second to ensure you won’t pass out etc. won’t derail your progress. However, as mentioned in the review above, you definitely don’t want to actually pause the video. Let them keep going and jump back in as soon as you’re ready.
2) I’m not sure what your overall goals are with starting Insanity, but any workout/fitness program requires commitment above all else. You can’t expect to lose 20 lbs, stop the program, and then stay at that lower weight. Consistency is key! Even if you decided to move onto another fitness program after the first month, you would have to keep incorporating cardio, strength training, etc to continue losing weight and getting healthier.
Lastly, GOOD FOR YOU. You can do this. It’s amazing that you are so committed!
Wishing you the best,
Ellahttp://www.youtube.com/sparklesandsuch26

Hey Ella,
I really appreciate our comment and really thanks for tips.
I started yesterday with my fit test and I think I did well because I cant feel my legs today ( No Pain No Gain) I really believe in this saying.
My goals are to get back to my healthy lifestyle and body I want to reach a point health problems from obesity is out of my life. My intensions is to lose 100lbs and hopefully I will reach that.
Hopefully I will keep posting my progress.
Lastly thanks for this tip as you said consistency is very crucial and I will be consistent and never miss a day with Insanity.
Again thanks a lot for the reply, I really appreciate it.

hi, i am 5’11” , 250 lbs, AMAZING review btw, the comments were very helpful as well, but I am afraid to lose weight fast cuz i don’t wanna have excess skin ! so how about gaining muscle mass to fill up the empty spaces? will this program suit me?

Hey Ali,
Great plan you have there. Lifting weight sure helps to reduce the risk of ending up with loose skin. Though with Insanity, irrespective of the fact that you will drop size fast, loose skin is rarely a problem. This is due to resistance aspect of this workout, that targets the muscle simultaneously as you drop down size.

If you like however, lifting weights can supplement the program pretty nicely, though you will have to be very strategic about it. Say lift two times per week and follow insanity for the remaining days.

Besides, don’t worry too much over lose skin- as anything else in the body it is an organ- an organ that reacts to change by becoming flexible, expanding and shrinking. Enough exercise, resistance moves included (which Insanity has plenty), good healthy diet, and enough hydration… The skin will be tight regardless of how much size you drop over the period of two months.

I’m not sure if Slavko checks this anymore but I figured I would open my question up to everyone. I just ordered Insanity and will start it February 2nd. I’m getting married in July and just recently tried on my wedding dress that I bought back in September and it’s tight! We got it zipped and everything, but it definitely feels tighter than it did back in September. My goal is to lose 15-20 lbs, but just losing 10 lbs would make my dress fit better. Do you think Insanity would make me achieve this? I’m a very dedicated person and plan on folowing the Insanity calendar religiously. I also am pairing my workouts with only snacking on fruits and veggies throughout the day, and eating less at dinner.

Starting to respond to comments once again. Sorry for replying so late though. If you started with Insanity by now, you probably notice the benefits already. And yes, you will get the results you are after. Just stay dedicated to the program and follow Shaun T. I’m open for any questions, so feel free to ask.

Hi Slavko! Thank you for your informative review. Anyway, I’ve already started doing Insanity for a week now, and today is my 2 day for my second week. I just have a question. Every time I do Insanity I do it at night. Let’s say I will start at 10:00 pm and finish probably 10:40 – 11 pm. And my sleeping time is 12:00 am. That is the only my free time of the day since I am working from 7:30 am – 5:00 pm. By the way I am 20 years of Age Male. And also, would you recommend a Heart Monitor for me every time I do the workouts that is accurate and can count my calories also. Thanks!

As far as the heart rate monitor goes, it is very subjective. I would skip that altogether. No need for counting calories. Insanity is mentally hard just the way it is- no need to add extra effort to the mix. Just make sure to stay true to the schedule and the diet plan, nothing more is required. How is the sleep cycle for now? Having in mind that you do Insanity only an hour prior of going to bed?

One question about INJURIES:
I wanted to get myself in better shape before starting Insanity, so I went running twice (gently and only 25 minutes at a time with some sprints). This resulted in tendonitis in my right foot. Despite medical treatment, it doesn’t seem to get much better.

Can I do Insanity with a tendonitis if I avoid jump squats and other demanding exercices on joints and tendons?
I am dying to start and I know tendonitis can take months to get better…

Hi Maria, I’ve had a bad ankle since last summer, pain comes and goes. It got bit sore on fitness test, but on day 3 now and it’s holding out. Try compressing the ankle first with some ice, and take baby steps in the programme. You’ll know when you do fitness test.

Hi there,
I’ve been wanting to get in shape and really look and feel better in my body for a while now. I find straight up running to be difficult for me as I have a bad knee and that can irritate it. I also find that after a while, the results no longer change with running, or swimming – another workout I enjoy and go to from time to time.
I am looking into purchasing and trying Insanity but wasn’t sure if I would be able to cut it due to my knee and lack of exercise in recent months (Christmas, New Year, travel, knee issues… etc got in the way).
Feedback would be much appreciated!
Thank you!

As far as being out of shape goes, don’t worry too much about it. Insanity will get you stronger and in better shape in less than a week. Only thing that is a concern is the knee. Don’t know how bad it is, so I cannot give a very useful answer here. Try seeing a doctor, or maybe take a chance and see if you can hold up on the first week of Insanity. Another suggestion of mine would be to try Focus T25- a half shorter, less intense workout, that has a modifier for every move that you cannot make ( great for replacing moves that target your knee more aggressively), but still gives you a chance to push to your max.

I am about to finish my first month of insanity and i can see the changes already, i definitely feel healthier and my friends and colleagues have mentioned that i look better. My question is, by the end of the second month is it a good idea to start everything again or should I better give it a few weeks before starting all over?

Hey Robert, congrats for the progress so far.
As far as repeating the program goes, try this- rest for a couple of days, and follow that with light activity for the rest of the week (cycling, a light jog, hiking, even a walk… you get the picture). Take the following week as another recovery week as well- by upping the ante on the light physical activity. Do one of the workouts from the recovery week as well. Take the whole weekend off, and you are ready to restart Insanity again.

I’ve completed Insanity once all the way through got ok results but decided the next time to just keep doing the first month over and over just for exercise. I ran the Marine Corp 10k last Oct and started training late but my first run was 4.5 miles because I had been doing Insanity. I beat my time from the year before by at least 10 minutes and only trained about a month. Thanks to Insanity my endurance was up to speed. I will say though to get the body you want you must follow a diet plan. Insanity alone will not do it. I just put muscle on top of my fat. Just started Insanity again after a 6 week Christmas break and now I plan to follow the diet and do the second half of the work out.

Insanity is the best prescription for someone who is training for athleticism and endurance. As far as the diet goes, the diet plan, though not obligatory, is making things way easier. I never followed it to the T, and gave emphasis to healthy eating in general, but that’s me- other people find it easier if they follow what is written there in black and white.

While Insanity drains fat tissue from all around your body, some areas are usually more affected than others. From my own personal experience, the thighs will drop size way fast, and so will the abdomen. For guys, the chest become flat and defined, and for gals there is not much difference in that area, except the usual and proportional size drop that is happening through the entire body.

The jumps and the squats that are more than you can count will make your butt more defined and tighter, so there :)

Hi guys, just started Insanity on Tuesday, day 3 now. As the name says it’s insane. I’ve never been a big guy, lean, thin, but have always kept myself reasonably fit. Any suggestions on foods to improve muscle size? I’m making a post workout juice for my sessions – banana, turmeric, garlic, cinnamon, greek yogurt, peanut butter. Anything I could add to it? The butter and yogurt are 100%, so no sugar, add ingredients.

As far as muscle size goes, you will need protein. Like somewhere around 1.5-2 grams per kilogram of body weight. To save you from counting and additional headaches, here is what I recommend:

-Make meat (mostly chicken or turkey) part of every major meal. Sometimes you can add yogurt, or egg whites. Fish (tuna, salmon, anything really) is also great on the menu. This will add a lot of protein to your diet.

-Keep the peanut butter as supplement, and add maybe some nuts into the mix as well. Oh, and you can add a tea spoon of Chia seed- very high in protein.

-Here is a trick- while most people go for their protein by adding more meat, you can replace your carbs source so you can get protein form there as well. So, instead of eating carbs only for the sake of carbs- eat things line quinoa, buckweed, lentil, oat flakes… These, aside from being rich with complex carbs, are also higher in protein than other carb sources (from 13% all the way to 18% of protein).

-A whey protein powder, if you cannot manage to eat everything else throughout the day, is also great as a supplement.

I love Insanity!! but am facing Horrible pain in my lower legs on 21st and 22nd day after warm up exercise.. I cannot stand anymore .. I started rolling for a while and pain stays for atleast 2-3 min..and i cannot continue.. This wasn’t happening b4 .. Is that coz of over training or dehydrated or low nutrition…??

This happened to me when I did the first round of Insanity years back. I remember it was a sharp pain in the lower leg, thought it was a vein, never actually figured out what it was. Needless to say, it stopped hurting after a day or two of rest (actually Sunday and Monday, if I remember well enough). Try resting for a while, do the recovery workout from month one (no jumps, but still getting the benefits from the workout), and apply some gel if need be. Consult a doctor, since we cannot possibly know what it is that’s causing the pain. Guessing can go really far, but it also can go dead wrong.

Vitamins and minerals from consuming fruits and vegetables, and rest enough.

Thanks for a great review!
I’m a college student and have stayed very active throughout college, after playing sports year-round in high school. I’m actually running my first half marathon in May, so between extensive running paired with weight raining I’ve stayed very fit. I’m not over weight, but would love to tone up a bit and appear a little more slim than I am now (ya know, like the Victoria’s Secret models). I’m about 5’8” and 131 lbs. I think I’ll be able to keep up without a problem, but my question is about working out 6 days a week vs. 5 days. Because of my class schedule and work, I can’t promise that I will be able to workout every Saturday. What do you suggest? Is that a problem? Or will I not achieve the same results?

Also, being a college student, I have a cheat meal 1-2 times a week (ex: visiting family and having a home cooked meal, or going out for drinks and food with friends). I eat extremely healthy during the week. Pretty much all fruits, veggies, and meat. How big of a role is diet in this program? Should I be discouraged when I got out with friends or be extremely strict about what I eat?

From what I can tell, you will have huge success with this program. To answer your first concern, having two days of rest instead of one is not so detrimental in terms of results. When you can spare half an hour every Saturday, do a little bit of stretch and balance moves (derived from the program, but not necessarily in the same order and length.. improvise, do some Yoga stretches as to keep the muscles ready for the upcoming week of hell :)

As far as cheat meals go, you are golden with just the two, believe me! I always take Sunday as my cheat DAY :) So, with two or three meals throughout the week- don’t worry to much about it. If you can, try to limit, or better yet eliminate alcohol. Though a glass or two every week wouldn’t make any significant difference.

The way you are set about your goals and with the mindset I see, slimming down and toning your WHOLE body is guaranteed :)

I first wanted to say that was a great and comprehensive review. I really enjoyed reading it, as well as some of the user’s comments. I just ordered Intensity and I am very excited to start. I am 5’5 and about 120lb, my goal is not to lose weight, but to rather tone and sculpt by body. Is Intensity a good tool for that type of fitness goal ?

Insanity is primarily aimed at people who want to lose weight. However, if you follow the advice given in the nutrition plan, you will see that an increased intake of calories (mostly from protein) will cause you not to lose much weight- you will be building extra muscle while burning fat tissue.

So, eat more protein than usual, and give your best during the workouts. Your body will look amazing :)

As far as nutrition goes, you can do Insanity despite of being vegetarian. It might be a struggle in terms of finding enough protein, but as many guys from the fitness industry know, this can be achieved nonetheless. The nutrition guide doesn’t take this into consideration, so you will have to come up with a plan of your own. You can still follow the principles outlined there though.

As for arthritis, I cannot say anything with certainty, since I don’t know how much of a restriction it is to your daily activities, nor how much pain it causes. Insanity includes a lot of jumping exercises, which I’ve heard from people, cause a lot of inconvenience if they have some issues with their joints. If it helps, I don’t think that anything other than the ankles or knees can be affected.

Great review,I am on day5 and can definitely see small changes already especially waist and tummy. 44 year old mum of 3 and I’m loving it ( a little stiff in the calfs and hips first thing in morning, but no pain no gain !!)

I am a 19 year old female from South Africa also doing Insanity. I am halfway through week 3 and I am really worried.. I stopped seeing any results after the end of the first week and I am on the strict diet plan and exercising daily 6 days a week.

The scale hasn’t changed.. I am not sure about cm but it doesn’t feel like it… If you could maybe set my mind at ease I would really appreciate it. I think a woman’s perspective is what I need since we do lose weight a bit slower than men.

I am a long distance runner (completed two half marathons already), 1st degree black belt in kickboxing, and also lift weights. But THIS exercise phenomenon, is like none other. Insanity builds your inner strength, making you a mentally stronger person. I am only able to do the videos 3x a week due to other activities; however, after just two videos, I saw results. You can do this!

Hello i really enjoyed reading ur article, i started the insanity workouts almost 6 weeks ago, it s one of the best workouts i’ve ever done. But before finishing the first month i had a sever flu and i had to stop and rest, it was very depressing since it become essential in my daily routine. Tomorrow i am getting back to exercising daily but should i start from where i stopped or is it better to start from day 1 ?

Great question. First, let me say congrats for getting this far! Keep up with the great work.
As for whether to start over or simply continue from where you stopped, I have couple of things to ask.

How much important is to you the 2 months time frame? If not that much, you can definitely start over. Then again, if your flu kept you out of exercise for a week or less, you can repeat the last week and continue from there.

You can also continue with the rest of the program as it is.

Depending on the time you’ve been resting you can go either way. My pick, assuming that you’ve been out for a week, is to repeat the last one and move forward after that.

Great review! I’ve learned so much from reading the most comprehensive one I’ve seen so far!
I’m planning on starting tomorrow but I still have questions, which I hope you can answer. First, what’s the best time of the day to do the workout? Still, is it ok to do it at around 6:30am or between 10pm-12am? See, I work from 9am-8pm, so my only free time is early in the morning or late at night.

Second, what can you recommend first-timers like me on how to tackle the meal plans? See, the food included in the meal plans are not “naturally-occuring” (so to speak) in the house. Just thinking about buying all that food in the supermarket daunts me. What do you recommend? Should I just pick 1 or 2 choices for each Meal and stick with it for the meantime and try other choices later on? How did you do it when you went through the program?

First of all, regarding the timing- you can go either way- whatever does it for you. This might take some trial and error on your part, but you will figure it out very quick (you probably did by now).

As for the meal plan, it can be simplified. I never really followed it to the T. You can stick with one or two choices (since there is nothing wrong with that- you get the amount of nutrients that you need) and then scale from there as you’ve said. Or, you can simplify and follow the basic principles that the guide outlines- meaning- making sure you consume the right amount of protein, carb, and fat (mostly from the sources described in the guide).

Here are some carbs:
-oat flakes, brown rice, quinoa (which is a great source of protein as well), integral pasta, millet grain…

Here is some fat:
-basically all sorts of nuts, peanut butter, tahini paste (these last two have a cool ration of protein as well), flax seeds, sesame seeds, olive oil.

Mix all the veggies to your heart’s content. Eat a couple of pieces of fruit, but try to keep that number small (although it depends- apples for instance you can eat more, bananas on the other hand- well, one is enough per day.)

As for skipping days- a general rule of thumb is to continue where you left. In the case of not working out for nearly a week, repeat the week and simply move forward. If there are many small breaks with days off and then n again, start the program again from the beginning.

Enjoy Insanity and drop as a line on how are things going
Have a great day

Hello Slavko!
Thanks for the fantastic review! Can’t say how awesome it is!
I’m trying insanity next week, but I’m a bit in doubt. I am 5 foot 7′ (176cm) and weigh about 211 pounds. I have been trying to lose weight since forever, and recently lost 17 pounds through hard dieting. I have a good background in gym and fitness and have raised my endurances and tested my limits through running and weight training .. My muscles are kind of strong (specifically arms and pecs) but are strongly hidden by layers of fat. I am mostly fat in the lower body which makes my body out of proportion as a male. I know I can take insanity and I have a saying (warriors don’t stop) whenever I feel I need to quit so I can “Dig Deeper” .. The question is will I see results? I can follow a healthy diet and my eating mostly consists of protein (Grilled Chicken) but through months of dieting I lost hope of being in shape again. I don’t want to be bulky, my muscles are kind of large so I wanna be fit and defined. That’s all. I have to tell you I’m just overweight not really fat and have lots of stamina and fitness just stubborn fat around waist, thighs, flutes and ofc belly. I also had a minor torn glute 4 years ago but doesn’t hurt anymore. Will I be seeing a dream body in 60 days?
Thanks and sorry for the long comment!

“I have a good background in gym and fitness and have raised my endurances and tested my limits through running and weight training”
“I am mostly fat in the lower body which makes my body”
“I don’t want to be bulky, my muscles are kind of large so I wanna be fit and defined.”

You my friend are the perfect candidate for Insanity. Having your goals in mind, a cardio-centric body resistance workout will answer all of your needs. Building your dream body with insanity can get somewhat harder if you are trying to build more muscle, but as long as your goals are to have more definition, and carve the fat tissue from your body… This is by far the best option.

Thanks Slavko! Yes I do not want to build muscle (I guess my muscle size is somewhat good) so definition and weight loss is my first goal, afterwards I can try other workouts to bulk up. Anyway, wish me luck! I just wonder what’s the best time and meal to eat before workout? Carbs to give energy? And I assume about 1 hour before right?

Hey Omar, good luck with the journey. Keep your enthusiasm high, it will take you all the way through the program.
As for pre workout meals, truth is, I rarely give it a thought. Usually you are right to assume that carbs are best for giving you energy. However energy supply is not really a problem if you are doing everything else right- sleeping your 7-8 hours, drinking enough water throughout the day, eating your five meals. Give yourself one hour of not consuming anything before the workout, for a lot of energy goes in that department of processing food and nutrients, and there is nothing else to concern yourself with.

With diabetes, people have to pay attention to their blood sugar levels before during and after workout, and people at the gym often times intentionally raise their glucose levels after a workout… Here I wouldn’t recommend anything at all.

Here is how I go about it- place my workout in any of the in-between space that is main meal and snack. Allow your body to do most of the processing, so you can workout without any nausea.

I have been doing T25 since January and am looking for a new challenge that is not specifically cardio based but has dumbbells as an active part- something i love about T25 Gamma. I feel like my body has peaked on T25 and I have started doing 2 every morning (I mix Gamma and Alpha or Beta) and running so my endurance has SKYROCKETED. Do you think Insanity would be a good next step? I am really just looking for lean muscle definition and continuing to define my slightly emerging 6pack before my bathlorette party in June and wedding in September but do not want to be hard on my knees or ankles. Any advice would be great!

CameronMay 14th, 2015

Hello!
Your review was very helpful!!! I’m about to turn 22 and am considering doing some kind of workout program a la Insanity this summer. I’m 5’11 and weigh around 170 lbs. I’m a musical theatre major in college and it’s important for me to be in good shape. I’ve always been in fine shape, nothing outstanding but this year I gained a fair amount of weight and I’m really wanting to lose weight and tone up. I’m not trying to build huge muscles but I really want to increase my definition. I will be considering doing it over the summer, I’m just curious how hard is it to do with a week-ish break in the middle? I will be on a family vacation that will be impossible to do it on. Also I might be taking a weekend trip here and there throughout the summer, if I can’t get in six days one week here or there, how do you recommend going about making it up? Also how much space do you need to do it? Is a living room with couches and what not big enough if things are pushed out of the way? Thanks!

Great review, just ordered! ive been doing kettlercise and pilates for a few months so i think im ready!! i took my first insanity Live 30 min class at the gym 3 days ago, I don’t know how but I got through it with only short water breaks, you definatly have to dig deep and doing it with a group made me do just that, my face was beetroot and my legs are very sore today and i definitely felt light headed!! I dont really want to give up kettlercise and supposed to be doing a 10 week running course starting tuesday (1 day per week (0-5k) can i adapt my workouts to fit these in to the schedule? the kettlercise is on a sunday! thanks in advance :)

Hey it’s me again!
I’m currently on day 18 of month 1, feeling so good! I didn’t have a look on the scale for about a month so o don’t know of I’ve lost some weight, but I feel my belly starting to become smaller. The most noticeable thing is chest, lost some inches and starting to feel so Mich tighter! Also my arms are souch better defined right now and I can do more pushups also I never did one before correctly. The problem is my hips they don’t seem to be Mich affected but I’ll just push through and wait till the end to see. Will tune in soon with more results!

Hi. I am starting week 2 of insanity and I am already seeing some results. Me, my boyfriend and his brother are doing it together and i have to say that I could not do it alone. My boyfriend is very fit and I am the opposite. It is the toughest workout I have ever done and its hard getting out of bed and walking in the morning because my calves hurt so much. (stairs really suck!) Now that we have gotten through a week of insanity I feel so much more confident! I follow a diet plan monday through friday and saturday and sundays are usually our cheat days. We have only been doing insanity monday through friday as well-weekends are way too busy. anyways, I have already lost 4 pounds in 5 days of working out and already see more muscle definition. Anyone that is unsure of this, It seems to be worth it as long as you push yourself. believe me i wanted to give up and die throughout the work out but push through and its worth it.

Hello everyone.i am very enthusiastic to do this program.I do not want to lose weight because i am not overweight,i just want to get good shape.I have little heart problem,arrhythmia.Is this program suitable for me and which kind of insanity program should i train ?
Thank you a lot.

Helooo there. I am a 19 year old female and I started doing Insanity about 2 weeks ago. After the first week I could definitely see changes and I lost 1kg. I was so happy! But I’m in the middle of my third week now and I can’t see any changes from the end of the first week. A friend recommended it and said that I would see definite changes every week. I follow the diet plan, don’t drink coffee or cheat at all. Sundays are off days, so then I would eat other things that are not on the diet plan, as I have heard from many professionals that it is important to have a cheat day..

I am just really worried and confused as to why the results have stopped? I know it’s still early and even though I rest a bit more than the people on the videos, I still give it everything I’ve got :(

I’m a 53 year old male. Completed the 60 day program 3 years ago, and made it 10 days through the program last year, before a slight knee injury made me quit (hey, nobody likes a quitter). Started the program again in March 2015, and completed the 60 days….and have continued the program everyday since (total of 12 weeks so far). As all of you know, the program is really difficult, and it will test your resolve in a big way. But if you can somehow find the discipline to do it (and very few people on this planet are willing to do it…or stick with it), it will absolutely produce some killer results, and you will learn a lot about yourself….how mentally tough you are, and much you are capable of doing. It will shape your body like nothing else. I am blown away by what it has done for me. But it’s tough. I have to frequently remind myself WHY I’m putting myself through this crazy stuff. The mirror helps to remind me. Good luck to all of you, and just stick with it.

I started the workout last week but only managed to get to day 3. I’m starting again tonight and I’m GOING to stick to it. I’m so looking forward to seeing changes in my body. I have about 20-25 pounds to loose…………..

Hello. I recently started Insanity, and have become slightly worried. When I started I was about 113-114 pounds at 5’5. Now I am almost 120 lbs. I was wondering if the meal plan is not recommended for a 14 year old girl like me. I wasn’t sure if age had anything to do with it. Before starting the program, I was on a low carb diet for 2 months.

You can possibly see my concern when I saw the carbs in the meal plan. Is this fat I am gaining, or is it muscle?

I must applaud insanity work out, it’s completely changed my life and brought me back to sexy, after two kids and gaining about 18kg.

Thanks Shaun T
Sad news is that I stopped some 5 months ago and relaxed my diet and of the 14kg I had lost doing the 30 days plan, I have gained about 2kg, I know why, and I’m willing to quickly reverse that.

I need to know if I can start with month 2, per the work out calendar?
I’m not as fit as I was some months back but I’m willing to work at it.

Hey, so today’s my first day of insanity. In order to prepare myself mentally, I watch each video before hand to get a gist. Day 1, ws tough. I did make some mistakes as I paused! I did about 30 mins before I gave up. But tomorrow I want to do better I hope to see some changes and work harder than before!

Greetings from Portugal.
I’m thinking about trying this workout because from all that I read, it seems perfect for what my goals are. I have one concern though that I couldn’t find answered anywhere: due to the required diet, is this program adequate for someone with a high chloresterol level? Anyone who can help me out with this, I will be deeply greatful.

Late to jump in with an answer… Anyway, Insanity, and not only Insanity, but similar programs, are very good for your cholesterol situation. The diet, if you take a look at the nutrition guide promotes lean protein and complex carbs, along with healthy fats. All this affects your cholesterol in the best possible of ways.

Thank you so much for this review! It was just what I needed.
I should begin my Insanity workout in a week or so!
My question is when should I be doing these workouts every day? I work 8-5 Monday through Friday. So I wake up at 6.30, and get home about 5.30 every day. Would you suggest me waking up earlier and doing them in the morning? Or when I get off work? Also, how does that play into meals?
Thanks!

First off, great review. My question is regarding what happens after you complete the program – is the idea that you are so fit you can go on and workout on your own or do you start all over. Thoughts?

You can tailor a schedule that fits your lifestyle. Meaning- you can continue with a similar pace (though I don’t recommend that), or do a workout twice or three times per week. You can choose cardio centric ones, or do the max recovery for strength. You can forget Insanity altogether, and do a jog once or twice per week, or go to the gym or play a sport every weekend. You can do a workout every now and then as well.

The thing is- if you stop exercising altogether, eventually you will lose strength and look differently. However, with Insanity, there is a huge time frame in which the effects start to reverse- meaning- once you end the program you will remain fit even after a while of doing nothing. You will have to start with something thought, and I recommend one or two workouts per week, one of them being Max recovery, the other Insane abs.

I am at the halfway mark with Insanity on recovery week and have lost 22 pounds (10 kg). I work out between 5-6 in the mornings drinking a low calorie, high protein shake following my work-outs. I also run on my lunch break 3 days a week and cycle on the weekends. The one thing I notice most with this workout is the high volume of sweating following the workout. My spouse says it looks like I just stepped out of the shower. When I run or cycle I am not producing half the volume of sweating than with the Insanity workout. Very please!!

I started Insanity yesterday and I believe I’m doing okay.
I’m thin (1.75m with 62kg), and my main goal is to gain some weight or at least, to shape my body. The thing is… I have a very fast metabolism, I’m just not able to gain any pound, and I really eat a lot. Do you have any tips for this issue?

You should up your protein intake. Maybe try a whey protein shake after each workout. That alone would help quite a bit. A better thing to do though would be to up your protein intake throughout the day and throughout your meals.

I’m a 27 year old female, my height is 5’1, my weight is 165 pounds, very sedentary lifestyle- work from home at a computer all day. I have an hour glass figure, doing insanity day 4 today, trying to eat as healthily as possible. I have about 47 pounds to lose.

How many calories do I need to consume to loose 1-2-3 pounds a week? I did the calculation 4 times according to the insanity nutrition guide but I think I did it wrong. I keep getting a total of 950 calories?

I haven’t seen anyone else post a similar calorie goal :(

I don’t mind eating that amount but I just don’t want to sabotage myself by over or under eating! Please help :) thank you!

If the formula says a number, then that’s the number. However, don’t limit yourself to the nutrition guide. Instead follow the principles and chose from the palette of meal and ingredient options.

Under eating is not a problem if your body doesn’t require more. By the very definition of it, under eating is eating less than your body needs. And if your body wants more, especially while you are on this program, believe me you will know.

Eat what you feel is the right amount and keep it close to the formula. If you want more bulk, you should only up the protein intake. If you want to lose more weight you should decrease the amount of calories, or keep them the same only adding more on protein while subtracting some from carbs. You should also up the intensity and rest more.

Tell me how are things going and how the two of you are progressing with Insanity. I will make sure to answer any of your concerns the same or the following day.

I just did my fit test today. I started working out about 8 weeks ago when I realized that if I wanted my body to change I would have to change it. I’m 23 years old, 5’1, and about 220 lbs. I’m so excited to see the results I get with insanity. Like you said I already feel like I’m part of a family. Thank you for getting me even more excited than I already was :).

Hi !
I want to know if we can run the program in 126 days instead of 63 days, meaning doing it day on and day off ?
Because I find it too hard to practice every day (sundays off of course), plus I don’t think that my situation is that critical to run the program in 2months.

You definitely can. The body will have even more time to recuperate and hence tone muscle mass, and you will find the whole program much more enjoyable.
The results, considered that you will follow the same principles of healthy diet and rest, would be even better. You will only achieve them after two more months, but since that doesn’t concern you, even better.

Hi,
I am 55yrs old this month.
At the end of January 2015 I went on a diet and purchased Hip Hop Abs and also Hip Hop Abs Level 2 and eventually I got the ‘T’ shirt. I then did T25, Alpha, Beta & Gamma both options and yes got the ‘T’ shirt.
I then started “INSANITY’ and love it, well I love it each day as soon as I have completed the session. I am currently half way through week 4 and looking forward to the second month, but it does look too hard, we will see. My long term plan is to finish ‘Insanity’ if I am capable and then do P90X to build some extra muscle.
I lost about 45lb from January but then it stopped, I do break my calories a lot. I started out at 243lb, I am now 200b but have been a little lower. My weight has just gone up and down over the last 3 months, this week I have decided to eat more, I have been eating about 1500cals a day, I have used the nutritional guide cal formulae and have increased to 2400 cals, I am wondering if I have been eating too little?
I have had a Dexa Scan and my body fat is 25% which seems high but the Radiographer said its pretty good for my age. I am going back in 5 months so hopefully I will be lower, my main problem is fat in my Android/Gynoid ratio which is 1.7 which should be below 1, which means too much fat in my stomach.
I must say though that I feel fitter than I have ever done in my entire life (was fat / obese from about 5 yrs).
I just hope that I can keep up with this and that my body fat will start coming off…….

Oh, I forgot to say I am 6′ tall. I do wear a heart monitor and boy does my heart rate go high during the workouts, they say 220-your age = max heart rate, well thats where it gets up to some days but only briefly as the workout allows it to recover every now and then. I eat a fair amount of protein including whey shakes, I am going to try and be more accurate with the 40%-40%-20% protein,carb,fat from now on and see if that also makes a difference

Glad to hear that you are making such a progress. Keep up with it, it will all come together at the end. Rare to find someone that is so committed and above 50. Keep rocking!
Calorie wise, try eating clean and forget the numbers for a while. Listen to your body. By now I think you developed a pretty good sense on how much food it needs. Try resting enough hours every day, and remember to always keep correct form while working out, even if you have to sacrifice reps and especially speed.

When abdominal fat comes into question, try the cardio abs video, or now (in month 2) the insane abs, twice per week. Start with adding cardio abs only, for now. Once per week, that’s it. The rest, do it as it writes in the schedule.
But remember, always keep correct form. That’s what ultimately engages enough muscle mass, the right way, so you can both burn more calories as well as build more muscle.

I’ve finished this exercise few years back (2011) and had great results. I lost around 20 lbs or so iirc. Since the completion, I gave myself a break which ended up being a long one :P

Fast forward to 2015, I’m way out of shape and gained more than 50 lbs extra since. I really need to “re-enroll” back into the program and reading this motivated me to start insanity again. I will start today immediately when I get home from work and hopefully I’ll post results in 60 days :)

It only seems like yesterday when I posted this, but I’ve just completed my last day of the 63-day program!

I lost about 9 lbs total, which may not seem a lot but I didn’t cut down on food intake as much during the program.
During my initial Insanity program 5 years ago, I was exhausted towards the end of the program because I was cutting food at the same time. While I had better results, it was unpleasant experience and I ended up distancing myself from working out for a long time.

So this time around, I didn’t cut my servings but I did stay away from fast foods (Except for occasional pizzas :P). I didn’t lose as much weight as I did first time around, but I still feel great and retained/gained a lot more muscle mass. I plan to take take about a week of break, and start another round of Insanity again!

P.S. One day I just randomly decided to google Insanity and ended up here. Upon reading few reviews and comments, it motivated me to start the program again out of blue. Before this, I always found an excuse (life, school, work, etc) to working out and I’m sure I’m not alone!
So if you are here, reading reviews, comments, etc, you are on the right track!

A year or two ago I decided to give the insanity workout a very dedicated try, my work schedule was hectic averaging about 60-70 hours every week but I kept motivated and dedicated to the workout program. I NEVER followed the diet program as recommended, but I also NEVER missed a scheduled workout even after double shifts (16hrs). My diet program at home was mostly unhealthy microwave foods, pizza, and protein shakes. My diet at work mostly always consisted of the dollar menu from McDonalds (literally every day). I probably tripled my food intake but still lost 25 pounds >half-way< into the workout program, unfortunately I was hospitalized and put into ICU for three months for something unrelated before I could complete the program. In a Very short time the insanity program sculpted and toned my body more so then I ever thought possible, I am currently recovered and in pre-training in the hopes of completing the insanity program on my second attempt around. I love your review, because I relate to how you feel like a 'team' in the workout, and I've found a reoccurring theme among people who have done insanity – they all have pride in having attempted or done it. I cant wait to start it back up next month!

Hey there, and thanks for sharing your story. Glad to hear it worked so well for you!
Keep the results in mind and know that you will score even better this time around. Insanity is a challenge that one enjoys no matter how many times repeated.

Don’t worry about testosterone levels. My went way up the last time I did Insanity.
It all comes down to a lot of adrenaline throughout the workouts, a lot of muscle endurance moves, and burning a lot of fat… These, combined with a healthy and balanced diet will put your hormone levels where they are supposed to be.

to slavco
i am 17… am about 5 feet and 2 inches tall . my brother has neglected his insanity program and i love being active ; so i started just randomly playing around with it and doing whatever dvd i thought looked fun ;) is it dangerous do do that ? is it very important do follow it through from beginning to end ? i wuold be very enthused to do the whole thing !!! i have one problem … i do not need to lose wheight i am currently 105 lb. and do not really ever gain anything … is it ok to do this program just because i love doing it ? one more question if u dont mind … do i have to use heart moniter thing ? is it dangerous not too?

At 17 it is probably ok to do a whole round of Insanity. So doing separate workouts sporadically cannot cause any harm. As for the heart monitor, don’t worry- I’ve never used one. I go even as far as encouraging beginners not to use one as well. Eventually, you will learn how to listen to your body, and adjust the level of intensity accordingly.

If you are ok with doing Insanity twice or three times per week, that’s even better. The program itself is very demanding if done by the schedule, so tweaking like this is even better if you are not concerned with deadlines or certain number of inches to lose over a certain period of time.

Have fun and share your impressions here every once and a while.
Take care

Hey David,
Considering your weight, you will have a tremendous challenge in front of you. If you are asking me whether or not this is possible, I will go ahead and say- yes. Probably. But you will most likely feel miserable from all the pain and hard work. (even if you manage to keep up with the challenge, your joints and knees might not).

My advice would be this- try with a less intense program like P90 or Focus T25. Both have modifiers included as well. Once your body adjusts, you can go ahead and do Insanity as well. The results would be much more satisfying, and the overall satisfaction of doing workout as well.

One week would be nice. See to it that you are doing some stretching and light exercise during this period, so the muscles are relaxed, yet ready to take on another beating.
Keep eating healthy though, and you wouldn’t have any problems with losing the progress. That’s the great thing about Insanity- after you are done, you can pretty much skip away with no exercise whatsoever, while eating mostly clean, and you will still have a ripped body.

Hi there. Thank you so much for this review it’s the most helpful one I’ve read. I’m 17 years old this year and I still go to school. Will this workout plan tire me easily and make my body sore? I don’t exercise on a regular basis but I’m pretty fit. I can run for long distances and I dance twice or more times a week. My biggest concern is being too tired to stay awake in school or to stay up and focus on studying at home. It would also be impractical for me to have a sore body after the workout because I train for dance performances and competitions most days of the week. Please let me know if you think this workout is suitable for me, I’m definitely very committed and single-minded about losing weight in an insane way. Thanks so much!

Insanity has its way of keeping you zombie-like the first week. But things dramatically improve once you pass that barrier. If you are having enough rest during the night, and eat more or less on the healthy side of the fence, I wouldn’t worry much.

However, if you are having dance performances as well, I would recommend customizing the schedule of Insanity, and cut two or three workouts per week. If you are ok with prolonging the initial two months and making that into a 3 month period, you will have real fun with this workout. You can maybe get away with 2 months and exercising every day, but I don’t know about the intensity and length of your dance performances, so a best way would be to play safe and slightly extend the 2 months mark by replacing daily workouts with your dance performances.

Hey Slavo!
When I was in 11th grade, my tae-bo gym teacher introduced us to Insanity and we did it maybe 2-3 times a week and within the first 2-3 weeks, he as well as my friends, noticed I lost weight. I noticed I felt so much better, I moved quicker, I had muscle definition especially on my thighs and calfs! When the semester was over, I asked him If I could bring it home and continue the program since he was not using it anymore and he said yes. I’ve had the program since then until now (I’m in the middle of 12th grade) and I used it for 3 weeks max. Reading this review gave me the motivation to start it again! My teacher remembers I have it but he told me he’s not using it this year so I can keep it until grad :) I am going to purchase it 100% when the year is over. I am also planning on getting the shirt if they’re still available!
I wanted to thank you for the review because everything is literally included in this.
Reading it made me remember how great it was when fit (I’ve become quite lazy and gained a lot of weight since I stopped).
Thank you!

Glad to hear that you are going back to the program. I had a similar on and off relationship with fitness the previous year, and preparing for the release of our own workout now, I’m telling you that there is nothing better than feeling fit.

hi, i just wanted to thank you for this honest review its really inspired me to push myself more im getting married in august so my goal is to have my wedding dress have to be majorly taken in. i started the program last week and i must admit i thought i was going to pass out at one point after doing the first DVD (not the fitness test one) Ive found it really hard but i feel better once Ive done it. its great to know that you had very fast results :) thank you for giving me the encouragement to keep going knowing ill get the results i want!!

Hi, I’m currently on day 39 of my 60 day insanity workout and am pleased with the results so far. I am a long distance runner and have been for the past 5 years. My aim is to improve my core fitness which in turn I hope will help me improve my overall running performance. I want to complete the London Marathon in under 5 hours this year. So far I seem to be toning my thighs and abdomen much more than before!
Can you tell me when you finish the 60 day workout how long we leave it before we start again? How can we be sure to maintain the work and fitness that we have gained over the 60 day.
Thanks Tanya

Glad to hear that! And good luck with the marathon. I remember being obsessed with struggling to lower the 20 minute mark on my 5k few years back.
As for returning to the workout once you finish the 60 days, it usually depends.

If you have a habit of running a lot, and staying active throughout the whole year, then you can take few days of rest. You can even take a week of rest allowing yourself to do moderate workout here and there.

If you are a seasonal fitness aficionado though, then one week of rest is probably the best choice given that Insanity is very intense. Of course assuming that you are going to maintain most of your healthy diet and eat enough protein. You can incorporate some morning stretch routines as well.

Hey, just have a quick question. I’m 19 yrs old. Me and my cousin are looking at doing insanity. Just not sure if this is the best option for me. I am 5’11” and 145 lbs. I’m looking to gain some weight. Would insanity or p90x be better for me for gaining weight.
Thanks

Hey, first i wanted to thank you for this great review that motivated me to start the program about 2 months ago. I am almost there and i can’t believe I’ve gone that far i am really enjoying it, but i have one question what should i do after finishing the program and have a recovery week should i just start over or is there another program to start or should i just have a long break ? :D
Thank You!!

As far as taking your break, I’d go ahead and say absolutely. This is a very intense program, and rushing ahead can sometimes mess things up. Take one full week of rest, doing light exercise every now and then throughout the days (mostly stretching). Oh, and continue with your healthy and balanced diet (though you can allow yourself to cheat a couple of times… really, the body might actually need that).

As for the program- it depends. What do you want to achieve? If it’s the same things you aimed for before, only more, then you can give Max 30 another go.

Hope this answered your question. And hope I’m not late with my reply.
Take care

Thank you for putting up such an informed review. I had the dedication of completing the 60 days of insanity as per schedule, but unfortunately due to the nature of my work, I travel often. Now so far I have completed month 1 without skipping a workout and lost 6lbs and feeling much better. My question I am going to travel for two weeks and I will not be able to do the workout. When I resume after two week should I start on month 2 or I have to start a fresh from day 1 of month 1.

Here is the thing- if you are not putting a huge emphasis on deadlines (like for example- you need to achieve this in X time), then I’d go ahead and say “tune it down”. Starting with month two after two weeks of skipping workout can strain your body in ways you cannot quite imagine. Believe me. Plus, you won’t be able to put the workout to good use and its maximum potential.

Therefore, I’d advise you to start from day one, or if you are not a calendar freak, simply repeat the last two weeks from month one (even better).

And what about the recovery week. You can repeat the fourth week from month one, and do the recovery week before moving on to month two.

Bottom line, if you are not overly concerned with deadlines, the longer the preparation for month two the better.

Take care, and kudos for finishing month one! You will miss doing Insanity.

I posted here 2 and half years ago! Still doing the workouts even after so much time. Sometimes 6 times a week but can’t always keep that up. Also, my kids are in hockey now….

I’ve found over the years, my cardio seems to be fine. My muscles are toned but they seem to be the weak link in the workout.

I’ve also tried some of the other workouts (forget Asylum, it’s crazy hard for me) like Focus T25 but I find too much of the “fancy footwork” too difficult for me. I like the simplicity of the original the best.

There is a tremendous amount of valuable information on this site and that is much appreciated! I’m a 65 year old life-long athlete who has done many of the Beachboy workout programs, but Insanity is clearly the toughest! I’m 5 weeks into the program and find I do quite well with the cardio portions, but less well with the strength components. My dilemma–I haven’t lost a pound! I’m following the diet, have the correct carb/fat/protein ratio, and am pushing way harder than I’ve ever done in any P90X program. I’m 5’10” and 178 lbs. I clearly have body fat to lose….any suggestions?

Are you getting enough rest?
Do you feel energized throughout the day?
How do you feel about your diet- hungry most of the time, full, or you think the formula has you eating more than you need?
Are you drinking enough water and staying hydrated?

Also, when it comes to form, are you paying attention on correct form, or simply speeding throughout the workouts?
Hoe many workouts have you missed so far (if any)?

Hope I can help once I have the answer to these questions
Till then, keep it up and worry not, it will happen.

Thanks for responding! I’m getting 8 1/2 hours sleep per night, good energy during the day, at 2044 calories I am honestly hungry quite a bit of the time, and I’m drinking a minimum of 48oz of water per day. I maintain the best form I can (I’d say very consistent form on the cardio and I do my best on the Level 3 strength drills). In 47 days I’ve missed one work out (oral surgery that day). I have now noticed I am tightening up in the core but I’ve still only lost 3 lbs. since I started.

I lost weight doing P90X, P90X Plus, & P90X-3 and I’ve never worked as hard as I am doing Insanity! I’m beginning to believe my age is impacting my metabolic rate more significantly than hard exercise can(?). I appreciate your insight and knowledge Slavko…..thank you!

Hi Slavko
Your review is brilliant and reading everyones comments has been educational.
I really want to do insanity. I had my first baby 14 weeks ago. Before I was pregnant I did a small bit of exercise maybe once or twice a week like brisk walking or swimming for 30mins.During pregnancy I didn’t do much exercise at all. I have gained over 2 stone. I weigh 174lbs and I am 5’5″ . About 3 yrs ago i was hiking mountains twice a month, running 4 miles at least 3 times a week and brisk walking and swimming in between. But I haven’t done much since. I hope I can do this. Should I join a gym first and start to increase my cardio first? You recommended earlier to jog at least a mile first. Is there anything else I should do to get me fit before I start insanity. I hope I can do it. I need to reduce the weight around my waist belly and back. Also can you give me an example of a daily menu?

Glad to hear that you are returning to fitness! I can relate to this transition, so here is my advice.

First of all, easing your way into the routine is always smart. People usually act impatiently and jump right in. But then again, those are the folks who are less likely to finish the program. A serious person doesn’t mind dedicating an extra week or two to the process. So for that- kudos!

Insanity is a very rough program. Two of the craziest months I’ve had in my entire life. But it is a lot of fun as well. Starting right away is doable even if you are a couch potato. But the risk of injury increases, as well as the chance that you won’t see it all the way through.

So, given your background, here is an idea. Forget the gym, but try to successfully complete one week of home exercises. Progressing with each day.

Here is a starter pack:

Do as many push-ups as you can
Then try simulating a jumping rope (try 30 seconds)
Then as many sit-ups as you can
Jumping rope again
Insanity has a lot of leg work, so do as many squats as you can also
Jumping rope again
Hold the low plank for 30 seconds

Repeat the whole sequence if you can.

Each day, try to go further with each move and by the end of the week you will get your body ready for the start of Insanity. Before starting the program, make sure to have two full days of rest.

I honestly believe that this is a more pragmatic way to get you ready. Forget the gym.

Hope this helps. I’m here for any questions so feel free to drop a comment any time.

Hi, I am in the 4th week of my 2nd run through of the Insanity workout. I lifted weights for 14 years after my 40th birthday and I have to say I haven’t felt as fit as this for as long as I can remember. I eat well, rest when needed, (mostly) avoid fatty foods (who doesn’t like a treat occasionally), and throw myself completely into each evening’s exercises. I have lost 14lb and am seeing signs of my 6-pack re-emerging from its mid-life slumber! I accepted the challenge from my 20 something children who thought I would never do it, but I am pleased to have proven them wrong. I will keep at it for as long as my body will accept this intensity of exercise. I cannot recommend it highly enough. It is not for the unfit, or those with serious medical issues (without having sought medical advice first). Go for it, don’t give up, don’t say I can’t – say I will, and enjoy the results!

Thanks so much Slavko for your swift reply. Really appreciate it. Would love if you could give me advice on whether I should start insanity first or cize the new dance workout and then progress to insanity. I am a couch potatoe but I have the motivation and determination to want to get fit and healthy and look great. I am definetly taking your advice about how to exercise before starting insanity.

Thank you for an amazing review. I’ve known insanity for almost three years now but I’ve never started with the workout. I have always been active playing soccer and doing some other workouts over the years but was never consistent which is why I have never been able to get rid of my spare tire entirely. I tip the scales at 187 lbs and I am mostly irritated by the fat at my hips. Most recently I got hooked with bar workout and actually made good results on my back but didn’t lose weight. However, I am downloading insanity as I write this comment now and feel very motivated. I have some muscle definition, I am able to do lots of push ups and pull ups and I feel ready to start with insanity from tomorrow! I will take before photos and hopefully after with good results.

If you’ve already build a strong muscle foundation, Insanity is a great way to show every bit of muscle and sculpt the body by removing lots of fat tissue. Bar workouts are hard, I know, but this is another beast entirely. Though you already know this by now :)

I have to say I am dubious about this program and others of it’s ilk. They almost always turn out to be an exercise in marketing over reality.

My example? I am 2 weeks in and not yet noticed any visible changes or weight reduction that these other participants seem to. I am going to continue with this regardless because I want to increase my overall fitness even if my muscles continue be swathed in (admittedly smallish) layers of fat. I am already a healthy eater with a decent understanding of nutrition so I know that diet is not the problem. I would even say that I do not believe some of the reviews on here given the extravagant claims they are making.

The only time I ever experienced sustained, manageable weight loss was when my cycling was at it’s peak before I moved countries and had to sell my beloved bike. During that period I was averaging 150 miles a week. That was an insane (‘LOL’ as the kids say) amount of exercise (2000 – 3000 calories a day regularly. Up to 5000 sometimes) which makes me wonder: does this come anyway near that level?

Anyway, I thought some perspective might be useful here given the almost scarily gushing praise for this workout. (Useful info about me: 6ft3/188cm and 86kg/190pounds)

Insanity is one of the hardest workouts I’ve ever done. And I’ve tried them aplenty. If you can manage to keep correct form on most moves, and push hard, 1000 callories can easily be burned in one session (around 45 minutes).

Hi Slavco,
Hope this message finds you well.
I started my Insanity journey two weeks ago and i must say my fitness is getting better and I feel that I have more energy. I am planning to finish the whole thing and hoping that I would do it !
My concern is that I see a little tiny bit of a difference regarding my waist but i already have a small one compared to my lower body hips and thighs. The thing is that i have gained weight in the past few months and I am trying to stick to the diet but still according to the equation in the diet plan book I have to eat 1700 calories to lose weight but i usually used to eat much less in order to see results for a two weeks period of training. I am mainly concerned with my abdominal area and arms since I am 30 years old now and I see a bit of a difference in my metabolism . not losing weight fast .
Help? I need to know if I will be shedding those pounds off please?
thanks !
p.s great review :)
Meera

Glad to hear about your fitness improving. This is very important. It means that you are trying your best.

Here is how to solve your problem.

Having in mind that you are getting better, now is the time to push harder in each workout.
Proper rest is also a must.
As for diet, since you can already find energy with less food, I recommend cutting down on calories. Do a test- minus 300 or so for a day or two and see what happens. Then tweak things again- go minus 100-200 and try to stick with it for another two days.

After a week you will know what your body needs for sure. And this may have a huge impact on your journey as well as results. The formula, though handy, shouldn’t be seen as one-size-fits-all type of thing.

Hope this helps.
Enjoy Insanity, and get ready for the real fun starting month two :)

Hello. I live in the caribbean. I don’t have access to a lot of products so i try as much as possible to substitute with what I can find here. I must say insanity was a bit of a challenge. I tried not to say to much attention to the scale. I’m now in week 3 in month 2 and i must admit I was kinda depressed that i didn’t lose any weight. Not only did i not lose i actually GAINED act 6lbs. I try to keep up with the exercises as much as i can. I think i do a pretty good job. I’m 6 ft and I started at 209 lbs . I;m nw at 217 lbs. I’m not sure if its because I didn’t follow the diest. I usually do toast and one scrambled for breakfast or some whole grain cereal or oatmeal. Some fruit for snack. meat rice or potato and veggies for lunch. A cereal bar or yogurt for snack and pretty much a little of what i had for lunch for dinner. I’m contemplating starting over and trying to stick to the diet as much as i ca. Also based on the formula used I saw i need to take in 2500 calories per day. Is that for real. Some help PLEEEEEEASE.

If you’ve seen changes in your body in a good way, less fat, more definition stuff like that, then your weight means nothing. You’ve gained muscle, muscle weighs a lot more than fat. If you have gained more weight and look chubbier than when you started then you should definitely be following the diet plan more closely.

Hi Slavko,
I am an 18 year old female, and am a healthy weight with decent muscle development. I am looking to lose fat and better define the areas of my inner thighs and arms, as well as tone my glutes. I was wondering, if because I have minimal body fat, if it will take longer for me to see results.

I’m on day three of Insanity. I like it. However, I feel like my body isn’t recovering fast enough to do these exercises according to the calendar. Is this normal? Should I just keep pushing and digging deeper or do a couple recovery days?

If not concerned about time frames and not rushing to lose X weight before X day on the calendar… you can really take one day off whenever you feel like you must. It will be better for your health and muscular development overall.

It really depends on you buddy. You must find your own area of comfort in regards to timing and scheduling your workouts and meals.

Ideally, you’d like to have enough energy to carry yourself through the workout, but have some of the daily responsibilities take care of, for it might be harder to function as per usual while doing Insanity in the mornings at least for the first week or so.

Thanks for the review. While reading it, I started to understand why I don’t see any results tho’ I’m coming to the ‘core cardio & balance” week. The answer is simple: I don’t follow the diet plan. Which I can’t, actually, since my parents make my food. And being a vegetarian, I’m pretty sure I don’t get that much proteins. Oh well, at least I feel that I’m doing better and better ! I started from nothing, I hated working out at the time and a friend recommended it to me. The first week was hard, but I didn’t give up and I can almost do the whole pure cardio workout without breaks.

The improvements really add up over time, and once you can handle the intensity you will start seeing results rather quickly. And it’s always about small tweaks you can do. After all, the Insanity challenge is NOT easy. It’s a lifestyle change. It’s incorporating workout into your daily routine (and the hardest workout you can think of for that matter), plus changing your diet to some extent and getting enough rest and this and that…

My boyfriend and I started Insanity back in February and gave up after the first week…. fast forward to now we are currently on day 5 and I feel very motivated this time around! The pain definitely wasn’t as bad the first time i tried it (calves still hurt like hell though) I was a little late on getting our measurements (day 4). We’re not following the diet plan but we also don’t eat fast food or anything processed so i saw no reason to really do the diet. But anyway just want to stop by and say great review! And this time around i am going to finish the 60 days!

Hi Slavko,
First, congrats for your review. It’s great.
Second, I’m concerned because this is my second week doing Insanity and I don’t see any toning up.
I’m 5.9″ and 132 lbs. I’m slim, so I don’t have that much fat, but still there’s a thin layer of fat on my belly that won’t go. Same with my legs, they don’t seem to tighten. I’m following the Elite Nutrition Plan, so I eat clean (fish, veggies, eggs, milk, chicken/turkey)… around 2,000 cals a day . I’ve recently started the Brazil Butt Lift program, and I also go for walks and swim once a week. Considering this, do you think the problem is I’m not taking in enough calories? I honestly don’t know what’s wrong. Is it normal not seeing any change in two weeks? I would reallly appreciate your help.
Thanks in advance :)

Hello, I am currently trying to switch my daily routine of waking up super late (3 in the afternoon) and being a couch potato and eating a lot of junk food.

So I am thinking of trying out this workout, since I think I have what it takes in me to accomplish this task I am setting to myself.
I just want to know about the diet part: do I need to be a chef to do my meals? Because I have almost 0 cooking skills, and I know the most important part of this workout is the diet (and the workout itself too).

Just give me an example of what you guys do/cook for your 5 (or more/less) meals.

So Ive been working out for 6 weeks now and I am going to try insanity on Monday. My question is that about a month in Ill be camping for 11 days. What do I do when I get back? Do I start over or just begin where I stop?

Hi There,
Thanks for the review . It is really very comprehensive. I would like to know more on the tip “Never push the pause button while you work out. It’s not intended that way. Take your rest when you must, but leave the video running.”. I started Insanity a week back and i pause the video if I am tired and restart after taking a break of a minute. Is that incorrect?

Hey,
I started insanity for about 30 days but I stopped for 2 weeks , so should I start all over again or complete?
Also, I would like to ask I observed loss in my weight and shaping but not that much is it normal?

The Upper body training is not part of the original Insanity workout schedule. If you are doing the Deluxe pack, it’s included there.

Honestly, I’ll stick with the original pack, and forget about the Upper body training video altogether. At least until developing enough strength and endurance.

Besides, it is a great workout session for bulking up some, but you won’t need it if your goal is to drop down on size and weight Fast.

Hope this helps.

P.S. Oh, and you don’t have to go to the gym in order to complete the Upper body training video. All you need is a set of dumbbells and you are ready to go. I for one never went to the gym, and have completed it dozens of times without a problem.

Hi Guys,
just found this review (better late than never). I’m just at the end of week 4 and I have to say that I hate it but in a very affectionate way. I actually love it and I am totally addicted.
I am a 46 year old English fella that likes a beer or a glass of red wine. Sadly I have to admit that I let myself go a bit and put on weight and gained a big tummy.
There is no doubt that doing the insanity you have to be very determined, aggressive in attitude and have will power to push yourself. I played a good level of football (soccer) so know what is required. This is no easy ride at all and you will get out of it what you put in.
After week 1, yes I’m still fat but I do feel better in myself. Weeks 2 and 3 were hard, no improvement in that I’m still fat (in my eyes) but definitely feeling better in myself.
Now ending week 4 and I can see now. My body is so much better. I seem to have better defined legs and arms and now my tummy is starting to slowly deflate.
There is no doubt, this is bloody hard but if you work hard, you will see results.
I should also have mentioned that I am not following the diet plan. I am being careful during the week and weekends with what I eat but at weekends I am still having a beer and some wine and I am still enjoying myself. Yes, the results may be slower because of this but by working hard in the week, they will still come.
Good luck everyone x